Business This Week: Family Businesses

By Kay Harris
The Valdosta Daily Times

April 04, 2009 02:39 am

— In the past several weeks, two longtime family businesses have announced their intention to close their doors for good. Let’s hope this isn’t a sign of things to come, but neither of these businesses closed due to the recession.
A few weeks ago, Alvin Payton Sr. decided to retire and close his family business after 50 years. Valdosta Floor Covering had been serving customers for many years and employed many individuals in the city, including his wife, Claudia, and his sons, on occasion. His children have careers of their own, and Alvin Sr. said it’s time to fish and spend time with grandchildren.
Romine’s Furniture in Quitman is also quitting business, as of this week, after 95 years and at least three generations of family. They’ve survived wars, recessions, and more in their time, and they’re quitting to enjoy their retirement, not because the economy is forcing them to.
Every business should be so lucky to have such long and successful runs. These individuals deserve praise for their service to their communities over the years, for providing employment for others, and for being productive citizens.
These businesses may be gone, but the values these families have instilled in succeeding generations will stay forever. Most small businesses don’t survive for longer than a few years, so the Paytons and the Romines apparently learned the age old saying — treat others as you want to be treated and the business will take care of itself. Perhaps that’s the lesson today’s entrepreneurs could benefit from.

Entrepreneurs in Action
On Saturday, Entrepreneurs in Action will take place at Val Tech from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Open to the public, the event will feature speakers discussing various topics for entrepreneurs, and the winners of the Chamber’s annual Guardian Bank Business Plan Competition will be announced at 2 p.m.
If you’re interested in attending, call the Chamber at (229) 247-8100.

Business Roundup
The former home of Southern Stationery on North Patterson Street is being renovated into office spaces. Located across from Covington’s, there may also be a coffee shop or something similar in the building once renovations are complete, but I understand nothing is completely decided yet. I’ll keep you updated.
Southern Stationery had been in the location for many years and moved to Lee Street, behind the Department of Labor building.
Also downtown, Glo has reopened. It’s a night club on North Patterson Street where those who are deemed admissible can dance the night away, eating sushi and enjoying dance music.
I’ve been told that Magpies, the Christian cyber cafe next to Publix, may be reopening at some point soon.
When I asked a couple of weeks ago about the property that had a sold sign on it located on North Patterson Street down from Wilson Eye Center, I heard from several people, so thank you. It turns out that the building was purchased by Taylor Insurance Co., possibly for a new office.
Speaking of Wilson, it looks like their addition is almost, finished from the outside at least, but the heavy rains may have set them back a bit.
I keep hearing interesting stories about the possible new owners of what was Mulldoons a few years back. I’ll keep you posted.
I also understand that a new restaurant may be coming to town. I was told, from a reliable source of course, that Buffalo Wild Wings may be going in on a mall outparcel.
We wrote a while back about the Fellowship Home and the renovations they were working on. The assisted living expansion is now complete and residents have already moved into the new Willow Wood living area, built by SC Barker Construction.
The Salon on Baytree has moved and is now the Salon off Baytree. It’s located on Cherokee off Jerry Jones.
There is a sign in a store window downtown saying that Kaleidoscope is coming soon, but it doesn’t give a hint what Kaleidoscope may be. It’s next to the Flower Gallery on North Ashley Street.
I’ll finish out this week with the hope that all who were affected by the flood waters are safe and that their homes and businesses survive.
If this isn’t the worst it’s ever been, I’d like to know from someone when it was.
That’s it for this week, but if there’s something I missed, please let me know!

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