Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Thanks For the Memory


To my customers, friends and employees:

As Bob Hope always sang, “Thanks for the Memories.”  February 17, 2012 will be the last day for Lutterbein Lumber Co. except in our memories.  In fact, after the 17th, this will be the first time since 1924 there won’t be a business owned and operated by the Lutterbein family on North Michigan Avenue in Edgerton, Ohio.  It’s been a long and memorable run.

Big C Lumber, based in Granger, Indiana, is buying my buildings, equipment, and inventory and will be open for business Monday, February 20, 2012.  Edgerton will be their 15th store.  They will be employing many of the same people you have come to know at Lutterbein’s.  I, however, will not be staying.  There are just too many memories of my family members all around those buildings.  Emotionally, it would just be too hard.  Plus I have to work on the auction at our door hanging shop and the closing of our truss plant in Columbus, Ohio over the next three or four months.  After that, I will be seeking a new job.

The folks at Big C Lumber seem to be genuinely good people, and I believe they will serve my old customers well.  They are a family-owned business with the fourth generation of family owning and working at the company.  They are similar to us in many ways.  As Lutterbein’s grew, we went into trusses, construction, real estate management, and other ventures.  As Big C Lumber grew, they stayed with lumber supply.  By concentrating on their core business, they remained successful, even during this economic downturn that has forced me to call it quits.

I sincerely hope you will support Big C Lumber here in Edgerton.  Because of their size they have more buying power and are better equipped to serve both the contractor and the do-it-yourselfer.  Please join me in welcoming them to our community and to the Buckeye State.  I sincerely wish them nothing but the best, and I hope you will support them with your business.

I am very grateful for the employees and customers I have worked with over the years.  I may not miss the headaches of owning a retail business, but I will miss the people who helped make our business a success for nearly 88 years.  Thanks you for your support over the years, and Thanks For The Memories!  Bill Lutterbein, President of Building Concepts, Inc.

1 comment:

Kathryn said...

Uncle Bill,
I don't know how much this will mean to you with me just being a "kid" and all, but I want you to know that I really feel like you've done well in taking on the patriarchal role for the Lutterbein family. I'm sure everything in this blog post was extremely emotional and difficult for you, but you have handled it with such grace and dignity that I feel pride in my family and in you when I read this post. You're truly an honorable man.