Manor appliance store owners retire after 45 years in family’s business
By Brad Pedersen, The Leader Times, Kittanning, Pa. | |
McClatchy-Tribune Information Services |
"I didn't want to just shut it down on my loyal customers,"
Tom's parents, James and Genevieve, started the business in 1969. Barker was working for a construction company then and lived with his parents. When he got done with work in the afternoon and on Saturdays, he would help his father deliver and move appliances.
"I just wanted to lend him a hand, especially since he was taking care of my room and board," Barker said. "I never intended to take over, but my dad just taught me the business and I fell right into it."
He quit construction and took a full-time position at the store in 1971. He purchased it 20 years later.
The store specializes in selling washing machines, dryers, microwaves, refrigerators and dishwashers. It employs repairmen
"There isn't anything we sell that we don't service here, ourselves," Barker said. "Everyone else has an 800 number -- we've got Kevin and Adam -- and that's what's gotten us so many customers."
Barker and his wife's plans for retirement include spending time with family, hunting, fishing and doing projects around their home.
"There's nothing big, just lots of little things that we haven't had time to do because of the store," Barker said.
The Mathises said they will honor all outstanding warranties and continue servicing appliances now that they have taken over. The new owners plan to keep Klingensmith and Anthony on staff.
He first worked in appliance repair after he graduated from the
"The repair business always gives you something different to do," he said. "I just really like the idea of being able to work on different machines in different places."
He most recently worked at Mr. Appliance in
In February, after deciding to retire, Barker remembered talking to Mathis and approached his father-in-law,
"Everything just worked out for us to buy it," Mathis said. "We're going to keep everything the same as it is now. It's going to be business as usual."
Mathis said he and his wife are aware of Barker's Appliances' long-standing reputation in the area, which is why they never considered changing anything about the store.
"The name, the employees, the service -- it's all going to stay exactly the way it is," Mathis said. "If it's not broken, we're not going to break it."
___
(c)2014 The Leader Times (Kittanning, Pa.)
Visit The Leader Times (Kittanning, Pa.) at www.triblive.com
Distributed by MCT Information Services
Wordcount: | 598 |
STORM DEBRIS Recovery & Processing
An Examination of Factors Associated with Healthcare Discrimination in Latina Immigrants: The Role of Healthcare Relationships and Language
Advisor News
Annuity News
Health/Employee Benefits News
Life Insurance News