BUSINESS

The Andersons closes its doors for last time

Retail unit began in 1952; layoffs for 1,050 workers began in April

6/3/2017

Bill Bailiff of Lambertville, Mich., bought a box of contractor bags and shelving hooks. The Andersons general stores, including this one in Maumee, Ohio, closed today.

THE BLADE/JETTA FRASER
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A Gibsonburg man loaded crates from The Andersons onto a trailer hooked to his pickup truck just hours before the store was set to close.

Those crates mean more to Bob Schroeder than most — he met his wife while they were both working for the company more than 45 years ago.

Store employees at the Maumee location helped Mr. Shroeder load wooden pallet crates with The Andersons painted on the side.

It’s something to remember the place that means so much to him and his wife, who just retired from a treasury position on May 12. Mrs. Schroeder worked for the company for 47 years and her husband worked there for 28 years in the accounting area.

“It was a nice ride. We don’t complain,” Mr. Schroeder said. “We were both very fortunate to work for this good company.”

The store closed at 5 p.m.

In January the Monclova Township-based company announced it was pulling the plug on its four stores. The Andersons retail unit, begun in 1952, lost more than $20 million over the past eight years and the division had not made an annual profit since 2008.

Layoffs for its 1,050 retail workers began in April. Chicago-based liquidator Hilco Fixture Finders LLC was hired to dispose of the stores’ fixtures and other large items.

The company will keep its Maumee store at 530 Illinois Ave. to use as a warehouse or for other purposes, while the other stores will be sold, Ms. Payeff said. The Andersons Mower Center business at 1220 Ford St. in Maumee remains open, but also will be sold.

The Blade was not allowed into the store on Saturday, and employees declined to comment.

Contact Allison Reamer at: areamer@theblade.com, 419-724-6506, or on Twitter @AllisonRBlade.