Youngblood Lumber, Minneapolis, MN

dstig1 · Apr 30, 2019

Just saw yesterday in the paper that Youngblood lumber is closing down. I was really shocked and saddened by this as it is like losing a family member. This was the premier hardwood lumber yard in the entire Metro area for anything and everything, including tons of sheet goods. And they gave you full access to the yard to sort and pick what you wanted. You load yourself up, then ask the yard guy to come out and measure and you take the ticket to the office to pay. You could get what you wanted and needed for sizes, length and quality, without any hassle. Their only requirement was that you neatly restack after you got what you wanted. I couldn't break free today but one of my good friends did, and said they were cleaned out almost totally. They announced it on the 19th April and once the word got out early last week, the locusts descended and cleaned them out. Many people realized that they would no longer have a decent local source so they stocked up. One boat building place apparently bought a ton of mahogany and teak and dropped like 30k in one shot.

This is really a gut punch as there is nothing even close to comparable around, and I regularly need wood and plywood for my ongoing house build. This is even worse than losing 7 Corners Hardware in St Paul a few years back as at least there are plenty of other tool resources, even if that place was fantastic. There just aren't any other good hardwood sources around with the breadth and depth of inventory YB had.

:gloomy::bawling::bawling:

RNeumann · May 1, 2019

Things seem to be changing in MN. The business climate is different I’m sure. But I’m sure things will improve- at least now you’ve got the right people representing your interests.

dstig1 · May 1, 2019

Not sure what the "right" people are as MN continues to be somewhat left leaning, which hasn't really changed much over the years. You get some R's in office and some D's and it bounces back and forth a bit as time moves on. But it has nothing to do with the political climate and everything to do with changes in the market. The area they were in has been turning hipster for a number of years. Architects offices in an old industrial building behind them, coffee shop and yoga place in another old store front up at the corner. When I started going to YB this was all old abandoned industrial stuff, or warehouse. Now it has become "gentrified" and the smaller time cabinet shops and individuals buying hardwood seem to have declined, so the land became far more valuable than the business. The owner sold it to a developer. They had been a family business since 1876. Another huge loss to the community.

Oaktree · May 2, 2019

dstig1 said:
J I couldn't break free today but one of my good friends did, and said they were cleaned out almost totally. They announced it on the 19th April and once the word got out early last week, the locusts descended and cleaned them out. Many people realized that they would no longer have a decent local source so they stocked up. One boat building place apparently bought a ton of mahogany and teak and dropped like 30k in one shot.

Locusts? If I were a cabinet maker or other large user of hardwood in the area and had the room to store the extra material I would have done the same thing, wouldn't you? Probably got a great price, too good to pass up. At least the material went to another local business as opposed to the whole lot being picked up for pennies on the dollar by a national liquidator.

dstig1 said:
NThe owner sold it to a developer. They had been a family business since 1876. Another huge loss to the community.

Let me guess...owners approaching retirement with no one interested in/able to taking over the business, and/or a business that had seen better days from a business standpoint?
Unfortunately, happens all the time, family members wanting to pursue their own dreams, not necessarily those of their great grandfather
.

dstig1 · May 3, 2019

You, perhaps, misinterpret my "locusts" comment. I don't begrudge them their finds. Had I known, I would have been one of them, getting what I needed for the next couple years a bit early so I had time to find another source(s). But the net effect is very much like locusts - when they find out, the place gets stripped bare in a heartbeat.

Not sure on the next generation, but my posts described how the land was just much more valuable than the business, which had been declining in recent years. Still a sad day...

I guess I expected more people to chime in with their experiences with similar business closings in their areas. Perhaps my title pointed people's eyeballs elsewhere...

Sigarms · May 4, 2019

The only thing I can basically relate to...

Schuylkill Mall - Wikipedia

I remember when it first opened, greatest thing since sliced bread for the area. Met my first girlfriend working at the SEAR's counter.

Oaktree · May 4, 2019

dstig1 said:
I guess I expected more people to chime in with their experiences with similar business closings in their areas. Perhaps my title pointed people's eyeballs elsewhere...

Thing is, these stories aren't really "news" anymore, nor have they been for a good 30+ years. Always sad to see a heritage local business go feet up, but times change.

Sigarms · May 4, 2019

Oaktree said:
Thing is, these stories aren't really "news" anymore, nor have they been for a good 30+ years. Always sad to see a heritage local business go feet up, but times change.

Long story short, you're in business to make money. Can't stay in business if you're not making money IMO.