Friday, Jun. 13, 2008

Yard Lumber & Fence Supply closing

Owner says it's time after 33 years, and though business is making it, tough economic times have effect

A combination of slow sales and a desire to do something different has led Gary Robinson to close his 33-year-old business, The Yard Lumber & Fence Supply in Modesto.

Robinson, 65, said he'll end retail sales at his store at 112 S. Riverside Drive on Wednesday and then liquidate inventory.

"The timing just kind of fits," said Robinson, who explained that though the business is viable, he didn't want to keep it going during an economic downturn, waiting for sales to improve.

"I have other things I want to do, and I think that's the direction I want to go," Robinson said.

Though the company sold lumber and other building supplies, The Yard found its niche with fencing and masonry wall construction, Robinson said.

He noted that several lumber yards have closed in recent years in the Northern San Joaquin Valley, but his business was able to keep going in the face of competition from newcomer big-box home improvement stores.

"We worked around the Home Depots and the Lowe's stores that are out there," Robinson said. "We tried to be, almost by design, a small operation."

The Yard has about 20 employees, down from about 70 a year and a half ago, when Robinson said he consciously chose to scale back the business.

He said the decision to end operations wasn't an easy one. "We still have a good business."

Construction-related businesses, from contractors to furniture stores, have reported slow sales over the last year as part of the meltdown in the valley's housing market.

At The Auction Park in Salida, owner Roger Ernst said he's had about 20 business liquidations in recent months.

Many of them are from construction-related businesses that are closing or consolidating, Ernst said, and have too much equipment relative to their workload.

"If it's not working, why have it?" said Ernst, whose business will have a liquidation for The Yard's leftover equipment July 5. "It's a sign of the times."

Ernst said his auction business moves 1,000 to 1,200 pieces of stock a month, up from 300 to 400 a month two years ago.

Robinson plans to direct his energy toward building a log cabin in Twain Harte after the Yard closes. He said he thinks his customers will miss a store with good inventory and a welcoming attitude.

"We didn't want to get too fancy," he said. "I think people came in here and felt comfortable with us."