Retirement and an opportunity: Jess Coffel & Bill Hamburger of B & J Power Equipment
The thought of a downtown Du Quoin without partners Bill Hamburger and Jess Coffel of B & J Power Equipment had never crossed my mind.
They are such a great part of this community and our lives.
Hard working, ever optimistic. They can turn your most frustrating day into your best day because of who and what they are.
They plan to retire by the end of the year whether they have a buyer for their successful business or not. In retirement, there is also a great opportunity for an individual or a couple with an interest in this community, in a small business of their own and certainly in customer service.
You will have a future because of this one important thought: "The grass is not going to quit growing," says Jess, 78.
"Jess and I are the same age for one day," smiles partner Bill Hamburger, 77, who talked about their birthdays being one day apart and the hope of finding a buyer for the business in the coming days.
"If we don't get a buyer we are going to shut it down," says Jess. "We have had two or three interested," he said.
The store's showroom has been quickly emptying of its historic Snapper and Stihl power equipment as the current mowing season comes to a close.
"We've got two boxes of work tickets under the parts counter over there to show you the hundreds of customers that we have. It would be a good business for someone," Jess said.
If a buyer does not present himself quickly, the emptiness this town is about to feel will be unspeakable. It would be like Kroger closing all over again.
The partnership is probably the most historic in all of Du Quoin--Jess coming to the hardware business once owned by Louis and Kathy Gremmels and Bill coming to the business just out of the Navy, They bought Gremmels Hardware in 1979, which evolved into B & J Power Equipment after the hardware store closed.
They have been together 55 years, sharing the work of the shop and sharing in the town's appreciation for that work by being named Outstanding Citizens of the Year in January 2013.
It's not too late to imagine the possibilities. "The building needs some work," says Jess. No it doesn't. That's what makes it a place that feels like home. All of the business agreements are in place with Snapper, Stihl and parts distributors Midwest Engines, Oscar Wilson of St. Louis, Stens, Inc. and others.
"If we know by 2 p.m. we will have the part the next day," Jess said. "We are successful because our customer service is so good." Moreover, the store supplies parts to small engine shop owners in Du Quoin and in the area. They will suffer, as well, if the business closes.
The vote by the Du Quoin Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors in December 2012 to name Bill and Jess Citizens of the Year spoke volumes about sincerely wanting to recognize two Du Quoin downtowners whose lives are all about family, faith and service to their customers.
The two men celebrated their 50th year in downtown Du Quoin in March 2010.
At the time, they talked about how "opposites attract."
They call themselves "opposites" only because Jess enjoys the hands-on work of B & J Power Equipment's shop. He loves the equipment. He loves getting to the bottom of the problem. Bill says he enjoys the business aspect of the partnership. He takes care of much of the ordering and the accounting. But, make no mistake, both know it all like the back of his hand, as well.
That adage has been at the core of a lifetime friendship and moreover a partnership now in its 55th year.
How do you sustain a partnership that is the envy of downtown Du Quoin.
"We talk. Any business has its problems. But, we talk about everything," said Jess in an earlier interview. "We find the solution."
Jess is the son of the late Jesse and Jessie Coffel. He grew up in Du Quoin, attended Arthur School and was graduated from the Du Quoin Township High School.
Bill is the son of the late Dedrich and Thelma Hamburger, attended Wheatley and Ward Schools, and was graduated from the Du Quoin Township High School.
"Bill was in the first class that graduated from the new Du Quoin Township High School (completed in 1955) as a member of the Class of 1956 and I was in the second class in 1957," Jess said.
Jess first worked for the storied Frederick's Battery Station at the corner of East Park and North Division Street in Du Quoin, then was hired by Louis and Kathy Gremmels of Gremmels Hardware in April 1960.
Bill worked for the Du Quoin A& P grocery before heading into the United States Navy as s structural mechanic whose tour included Iceland and Newfoundland. He returned to the grocery after his discharge, but only for a short time.
Their friendship literally goes back to their birth. "My mother was a midwife and she delivered Bill," said Jess.
The hardware store's name would be changed to B & J True Value when the partners purchased the Gremmels' interests in January 1979. "The store was No. 249 in the True Value records," said Jess.
As American retailing changed and large chain stores like Walmart made their mark on the downtown landscapes all across America, Jess and Bill closed the hardware store and transitioned to an outdoor lawn and garden business. B & J Power Equipment has been home to names like Snapper, Stihl and for many years before that John Deere and Troy-Bilt. The store services dozens of John Deere tractors each year.
It is respected because of the character and integrity of the owners. Their membership in the Gospel Assembly Church in Du Quoin has a lot to do with it. "We have a large faith in the Lord," said Bill. Their church is a model for churches all across the nation. The membership is committed to the church. The church and the grounds are immaculate. It is part of the mindset that Bill and Jess maintain in their personal lives.
Some of the best memories for the two men are those of people who worked for the store. Included in the name-dropping are Louie and Kathy Gremmels along with their children David, Kent and Pam. Others working early on were Norman Keith, Don Ruby and
Ernie Bartholomew, John Kaul, Ed Coffel, Ray Humphrey, Ron Pyle, Dave Crain, Anita Peters, Lula Heape, Sue Ford, Sue Purdy, Frances Stewart and Jo Ann James.
Later on, it was Jess's father-in-law Albert Norris, son Kevin, son-in-law John and daughter Rhonda Fleming and Heather (Fleming) Willis. The working family enlarged as Bill Hamburger's son Gary and wife Darlene were working along with Bill's grandson's Josh, Jonathon, Brandon and Bryce. Saturdays were spent cutting stove pipe and selling items like cross cut saws, cow kickers, calf weaning supplies, galvanized tubs, buckets and "slop jars" or "thunder mugs."
Some of the early equipment shop employees were Dale Coffel, Kenny Roberts, Bob Maynard, Don Doerflein, Frankie Saunders, Josh McCuen. Then, of course, there are Jeff Oestricher, John Gibson, Kevin Coffel and Ryan Lively.
The store was one of the first to introduce Snapper riding mowers in 1962 and B & J Power Equipment has been a Stihl dealership since 1990.
A great history continues on Mulberry Street in what decades before was Jess's great grandfather's livery stable and before the lawn mower shop came into being Sheehan's Midwest Grocery.
The Future
Odds and ends of health issues influence their decision to retire.
Bill and Jess say if a buyer is found they would be willing to stay during the transition as employees to help the new owner. For that new owner it would be the best of both worlds--the men and the experience and taking over an historic business.
As we talked, a city lake resident stopped in to talk about a mower he was having trouble with. Jess knew the customer, knew right where he lived and knew right where the mower would be for pickup. Wow! It doesn't get any better than that.
And, there are resources to help you create a plan to buy and own this business.
Du Quoin economic development director Jeff Ashauer said in a recent discussion, "I like this business." Jeff knows business and financing plans like the back of his hand. He has created a dozen local TIF agreements, revolving loan agreements, tax incentives and how to create relationships with local banks.
Banks and the SBA (Small Business Administration) can help. There are others.
Faith tells me that "in His own time and in His own way" a buyer will be found.