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125-year-old Paris Station store keeps
packing in loyal customers.
Dave Kalies has lived in Paris Station for 10
years and dealt with the folks at Lincoln Davies just as long.
That’s why he keeps coming back.
A new business on the horizon? Hardly, although
the horizon and surrounding countryside is a beautiful sight to
behold from this location in the heart of what was once rich farm
country.
Actually, this business has been around 125
years and run by the same family. Edward Jones is manager of the
operation that was founded by this great-great- grandfather, David
Davies, whose son’s first name was Lincoln.
"They used to hitch up the team and go to
Utica and buy in bulk, then return and sell the items to the local
farmers," said the 34-year-old Jones, who returned to the
family business in 1993 after serving as director of flight
operations for the now-defunct Mohawk Airlines.
Down the hill behind the general store are the
lumber yard and the railroad tracks. Paris Station was a stopping
point for the Utica-Chenango-Susquehanna and the
Delaware-Lackawanna & Western railroad.
Because the railroad cut through the family
farm, David Davies used it to bring in coal, and then grain and
lumber. "It made it easy for to supply our customers,"
who were mostly farmers. Jones said. "Back then the railroad
was the Thruway. You didn’t go to the mall"
But times changed. A quarter century ago, there
were 19 dairy farms between Utica and Waterville. "They all
had tool sheds explained. "They were our core customers,
along with contractors."
Today just two farms remain, but the customer
base-many children and grandchildren of earlier patrons-remains
strong with just under 3000 accounts in a 50-miles radius.
Over the years, the merchandise expanded and
new products like windows and doors took the place of feed in the
old feed mill across the road. Where once coal was a staple of the
trade, now it’s woods pellets. And of course, food and hardware
always are in season.
As for lumber, Jones believes the business can
compete with any of the larger stores around. For example:
"We carry western spruce, rather than eastern. It’s a
better quality, "he says. The pressure treated decking and
railing is all Number 1 grade, he say, and it’s all stored
inside so it won’t warp or twist.
Small has other advantages as well. "You’re
dealing with people who know you. You go to the larger stores,
they don’t always know you," said Tony DeCarolis, a partner
in Consolidated Home Improvements.
"You can go in, write down what you took
and they’ll take care of it," he said, while at other
places, you sit in line and they check your truck. "That
takes time, and time is money."
Jones’ parents, Ron and Judy Jones, took over
ownership in 1970 and still are at the helm today. Ron often can
be found on the phone talking to customers who value his
expertise. He has a philosophy about that.
"At that moment, that’s the most
important thing on that customers’ mind, whether it’s about a
spark plug or something else. Otherwise they wouldn’t
call," he said.
"We’re also very fortunate to have had
very good people working for us over the years." Of the 12
currently employed, five have been with the business more than 25
years, the rest more than 10 years.
Plyllis Tuttle is a cashier who’s been with
the business 33 years. Her children at one time worked at the
store and remain customers. "I’m close to home and I like
to see people. It’s like family here, "she said.
As far as Joe Yourno is concerned, you can’t
beat Lincoln Davies. He works for Agway five miles down the road
in Sangerfield. Besides closeness, "we can get the oddball
things we use," like the large pipe fitting he had in one
hand. "And if we can’t get up, they’ll run it down."
Oh, did we mention there’s free delivery on
most building items? That too
And what’s that in Yourno’s other
hand"
"I bought some work handkerchiefs … and
this," he said, pointing to a can of coffee.
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