Dying Hard

The edited version of this story first appeared in Simcoe Business Magazine

Fall 2007

In Ontario, 91% of small businesses (having 5-99 employees) survive to the end of their start-up year Just 55% of those businesses will have survived to the end of their fifth year in business Only 33% survive to 10 years Source: Industry Canada. Small Business Research and Policy. Key Small Business Statistics – July 2002. How Long Do Small Businesses Survive? (Table 3)

 

They were there when we were growing up. Perhaps we partied or ate there; our parents went there, and possibly our parents’ parents. Examples of die-hard businesses exist in Simcoe County everywhere. The following lighthearted investigation looks at some of the old businesses that are still going strong today, and the possible reasons they have stood the test of time.

 

 

The Roller Skating Place

WHERE: Odas Park, 4442 Fairgrounds Road, RR#2 Orillia
OWNER(S): Orillia and District Agriculture Society
NUMBER OF YEARS IN BUSINESS: 26; since 1980
PRODUCT/SERVICES OFFERED: $4 skating – includes skate rental; children and adult roller-skating/blading facility; birthday parties

WHY IT IS STILL THERE: Nostalgia, plain and simple. Some of our first teen infatuations occurred here; there was something magical about the lights, music and dark recesses of the rink. Of course, there was the challenge of learning how to roller skate, using the clumsy 4-wheel skates still available there to this day. More importantly, it is still there due to the dedication of the volunteers who keep the facility open.

Volunteer and manager Alice Stamper explains,

“High liability insurance and rent threaten this place. If it were not for all the volunteers who donate their time, it would have closed a long time ago. However, we keep kids off the street. It is a lot of fun and plenty of families come out for family skate on Sundays. We also cater to the Girl Guides, Boy Scouts and other youth groups. So we all pitch in to help.”

 

 

Dock Lunch
(Also known as World Famous Dock Lunch)

WHERE: town dock, 4 Main St. Penetanguishene
OWNER(S): Nick Boudouris
NUMBER OF YEARS IN BUSINESS: 49; since 1957
PRODUCT/SERVICES OFFERED: take out or eat in lunch, and dairy bar

WHY IT IS STILL THERE: It is a clean fast food place, which offers more than just fast food.

Service and quality are important to owner Nick Boudouris. “You can still make take-out without compromising the old fashioned ways of making hamburgers and fries. Food quality is important; and you know what? I still get up in the morning and enjoy what I am doing; I get to look out over The [Georgian] Bay – not too many people can get up and go to work that has a nice view!”

Nice view, good food – perfect combination.

 

 

Johnstone’s Musicland

WHERE: 280 King Street, Midland
OWNER(S): Beth Johnstone
NUMBER OF YEARS IN BUSINESS: 66; since 1940
PRODUCT/SERVICES OFFERED: music instrument sales, service, rentals; sound equipment rentals; musician’s accessories

WHY IT IS STILL THERE: These people know their music – and their wares too. Family owned for 66 years, the store is still small and cozy – but don’t let that fool you – the instrument selection is big, customer service even bigger.

 

 

French’s Stand

WHERE: Centennial Drive, Couchiching Beach Park, Orillia
OWNER(S): French family, Jim French
NUMBER OF YEARS IN BUSINESS: 86; since 1920
PRODUCT/SERVICES OFFERED: fries, burgers, hot dogs and ice cream
WHY IT IS STILL THERE: It is a cone-after-a-swim place; food-after-the-boat-ride place; a place for children in strollers and on bicycles and a sharing-of-chrome-parts-information place. They all gather there: bathers, boaters, pedestrians and bikers. You can count on at least one motorcycle being parked there at any given summer night, usually more. The quaint café-style tables are nearing 100 years old. Freshly painted benches sit perched up on a hill, with strategically placed garbage boxes for the empty fry containers. Built in 1920 by George N. French, the stand has seen its share of famous visitors, including Darryl Sittler, Brian Orser and Stephen Leacock. Speaking with Wib French (who operated the stand from 1962-2003) it is easy to get caught up in nostalgia.

“When my mom and dad were running the place, hot dogs were 5 cents. Why are we still here? Because we are carrying on a family tradition – people like that. We have a good reputation – at least we hope so,” French laughs. “The proof is in the length of time we’ve existed. You have to provide satisfaction – or lose customers.”

The secret to their fries is all in the grease – or shall we say, the changing of the grease.
“You can’t let the grease get old,” 87-year-old French, says, “it spoils the flavour of the potatoes.” That’s it, that’s all, folks.

T & G Fabrics

WHERE: 365 King Street, Midland
OWNER(S): Ted Drennan
NUMBER OF YEARS IN BUSINESS: 35; since 1971
PRODUCT/SERVICES OFFERED: everything from bridal to boat top, sewing machine repairs – the older the better
WHY IT IS STILL THERE: T & G has outlived other sewing stores, also competing with big name outlets. Watching his interaction with customers, it becomes apparent why his business has survived big-time competition.

Owner Ted Drennan explains, “I provide service and I do not mind spending the time doing so. I feel the trick is to be as honest as possible. People need to trust you. I provide dollar value, old-fashioned honest service. In business, you need to sell yourself. If you can’t do that, you’d better get out fast!”

 

 

Ossawippi Restaurant

WHERE: 210 Mississauga Street East, Orillia
OWNER(S): Terry McNaughton
NUMBER OF YEARS IN BUSINESS: 34; since 1972
PRODUCT/SERVICES OFFERED: licensed fine dining, offering Canadian and Continental cuisine

WHY IT IS STILL THERE: Aside from serving good food, the attraction here is the atmosphere itself – inside authentic antique rail cars which date back to over 100 years. Presentation is everything – right down to the fine linens upon the tables. Owner Terry McNaughton reflects upon the success of his business.

“The true success of my business is my dedicated staff and keeping up with trends. You need to get involved with the community. I feel that the people in your community need to know who you are and that you are dedicated to your business. If you show that, they will be dedicated to you. I truly believe that you have to give in order to receive.” Enthusiastically McNaughton continues. “We must also remember, that we have to love what we are doing in order to make a success of it. I really love what I am doing.”

 

Loretto Tavern

WHERE: Hwy 50 and County Road 1, Loretto
OWNER(S): The Dedel Family
NUMBER OF YEARS IN BUSINESS: since 1800s (owned and operated by the Dedel Family 43 years; since 1963
PRODUCT/SERVICES OFFERED: licensed Inn offering rooms, fast food, music, line dancing; will host your special event, whether it’s a stag, Jack & Jill or birthday/anniversary

WHY IT IS STILL THERE: It is one of the few saloon-type places left in Simcoe County. With a saloon-western atmosphere, it actually has a dance floor as well as a separate pool table area. With the addition of television sets, it is also a lounge. Rooms start at $49, and once a month, they have live entertainment. This 1800s building takes you back to the pre-“regulated-to-death” bar days…

 

 

Cookstown Auto Centre Ltd.

WHERE: 5046 5th Sideroad, Cookstown
OWNER(S): John and Olive Bucko
NUMBER OF YEARS IN BUSINESS: 40 years
PRODUCT/SERVICES OFFERED: Used auto parts, free scrap vehicle pick up, parts location service.

WHY IT IS STILL THERE: Staff is knowledgeable and friendly, parts are endless. The yard appeals to the do-it-yourself fellow, with its “pick your own parts” system – customers can go and remove the part themselves at a discounted price. Those of you growing up with rabbit ears for an antenna on the household TV set might remember “that crazy parts guy” selling for Cookstown Auto back in the 70s. The Buckos took the junkyard business when it had a bad reputation – fine tuned it – and are now leaders in the business of recycling.

Owners John and Olive Bucko recall their beginnings.

“We took the “junkyard” image and cleaned it up,” John Bucko explains. “When you arrive, it’s paved parking. There is a lounge area if you are waiting for a part and a clean reception area. All our trucks are new. We deal with the full product – the entire vehicle. We are environmentally friendly. If you go out to get your own part, you won’t have 4 junkyard dogs chasing you while you run knee-deep in mud.”

“Ok,” Olive Bucko pipes in, “it has rained for four days now – there might be a little bit of mud.”

 

 

Simcoe Block

WHERE: 207 Tiffin Street, Barrie. Head Office: 140 Ferndale Drive
OWNER(S): Gariepy Family
NUMBER OF YEARS IN BUSINESS: 61; since 1945
PRODUCT/SERVICES OFFERED: manufacturers of concrete block, distributors of masonry products. Simcoe Building Centre store retails lumber and insulation, serving Barrie, Bracebridge and Collingwood.

WHY IT IS STILL THERE: According to Sales Manager Chris Gariepy, customer service and diversification are the keys to survival.

“Customer service is the most important,” says Gariepy. “We have very good people working here. Frontline people at the counter, good yard staff and drivers are a key part to our sales team. They are on site meeting customers giving positive representation of our company. Of course, there’s also competitive pricing. We try to be competitive to accommodate our subcontractors and builders.”

Many factors contribute to the success or failure of small business: employment rates, wages earned and supply/demand. Location and price competitiveness also play key roles. Without minimizing these important factors, one thing is glaringly obvious: an old-fashioned attitude toward good customer service prevailed over all the possible reasons why these businesses have survived the “tough five” – the first five years in the life of a new business. Apparently, takin’ care of business is their business.