In a surprise move, Herrington’s closes
The Daily Mail and The Register-Star
Feb. 21, 2009

CATSKILL — The economic downturn has claimed another victim. Herrington’s lumber and building materials store on Water Street in Catskill closed Friday.

“It was simply an economic decision,” said Ken Blass of Blass Communications, a spokesman for Ed Herrington Inc.

Five employees were laid off Friday and two were offered positions at the retailer’s other locations, Blass said.

The company employs more than 170 people in stores and showrooms in Connecticut and Massachusetts as well as in Hudson, Chatham, Hillsdale and Millerton.

An office in Lenox, Mass., was also closed, but its employees were moved to other locations, he said.

Mike Simmons, who worked at the store until it closed, said that the chain had laid off more than 10 employees over the last month.

“Nobody’s been buying stuff,” Simmons said.

Last July, Ed Herrington, Inc. purchased Dunn Builders Supply, which had been in Catskill for over 50 years, from owner Steven Dunn.

At the time of purchase, Ed Herrington, president and chief executive officer of the chain, said the purchase was an exciting move that would expand Herrington’s reach across the region.

“While this is not the outcome we had intended, the decision to close our Catskill location will better position our company for future opportunities and ready us to meet the changing landscape of the building industry,” Herrington said in a press release Friday.

“Our computer system allows customers to use their account at any store, so Catskill customers will experience no difficulty in transacting business at any Herrington’s store location,” General Manager Richard Herrington said in the release.

Customers can call (518) 828-9431 for service, he said.

According to the Village of Catskill Downtown and Waterfront Revitalization Plan, the 1.82-acre Water Street property, which is still owned by Dunn, is considered part of the plan’s Uncle Sam Bridge node.

The property features a number of buildings of a variety of sizes and ages, as well as some docks along the shore of Catskill Creek.

“The variety in size and location of the buildings would allow water-dependent and water-enhanced uses, along with retail shops, offices, artisan and craft space museums or other tourist destination, and countless others. Planning for future uses and design of this complex of structures should be a high priority for implementation of this revitalization strategy,” the plan reads.

Dunn said he was unaware of plans to close the store. He said he had recently been in the building to see some ongoing renovation and electric work.

“Something’s not right,” he said.