Billings Lawn Equipment Celebrates 60 Years with Move to Clawson

Billings Lawn Equipment Celebrates 60 Years with Move to Clawson

by | Jan 2, 2019 | Billings Lawn Equipment, Clawson, LBN Community Series

Billings Lawn Equipment Celebrates 60 Years with Move to Clawson
02
JANUARY 2019
BY REBECCA CALAPPI
LBN Community Series
Clawson
It used to be that if you were looking for monkey chow and elephant food, Billings Feed Store was the place to go.

“My grandfather bought the business in 1959 when it was Billings Feed Store,” said current owner Scott Johnson. “We used to supply the zoo with all their feed years ago.”

SCOTT JOHNSON (center, in gray)

OWNER, BILLINGS LAWN EQUIPMENT
Billings Feed Store has been around since the 1930s. Johnson’s grandfather, Henry, worked for Les Billings, the owner.

“My grandfather worked for him [Les Billings] as a young guy. He was a truck driver,” said Johnson. “He ended up buying it from Les Billings and he ended up keeping the family name.”

Johnson recalls being in the store as a kid, making tunnels in the feedbags, ripping open feed bags and playing with the cats in the store.

“We had mynah birds and we sold parakeets when my grandfather owned it. We still have people who come in who remember the cats and the birds,” said Johnson. “We had to get rid of the mynah birds because the customers taught them bad words.”

The Billings store has a long history in Royal Oak at Main and Lincoln, and Johnson plans to continue in the new location on 14 Mile Road in Clawson, which opened in November.

Initially, Billings had two stores near each other: one was lawn equipment the other was a feed store. The feed store was sold, leaving the lawn store for Johnson to run.

“My dad, Rick, got cancer in 2015, and we knew the real estate we had was worth some money, so we were going to sell it and let him retire. Unfortunately, he passed away in May 2018,” said Johnson.

Today, the newly re-opened Billings Lawn Equipment has all the trimmers, mowers, snow blowers and weed whippers homeowners and business owners need to keep yards looking their best.

“We sell everything the big box stores do, but we sell it for the same price. We have free delivery and we service them and have a full line of parts. If you’re looking for gear, they’ve got it from A to Z here.”
“We sell everything you need for residential landscaping and working. We carry pretty much the same stuff we’ve always carried over the years— Stihl, Redmax, Echo, Shindaiwa and we still carry all the residential stuff like Toro, everything from line trimmers to lawn mowers,” said Johnson. “We sell everything the big box stores do, but we sell it for the same price. We have free delivery and we service them and have a full line of parts.”

Travis Beard, co-owner of Worry Free Outdoor Services, has been a loyal Billings customer since opening his business in 1998.

“We went into their open house they have every year, we met Scott and Rick and they walked us through the process. We’ve been loyal to them ever since,” said Beard. “That’s who I call when I need something. We call them for service to our mowers, parts, new mowers, my partner just goes up there to hang out. It’s a destination place. People come from all over. Once you go in there once, you keep coming back.”

With 11 employees, Billings Lawn Equipment has the experience and knowledge customers want when looking to make an investment in machinery. At one time, almost everyone working at Billings was family.

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“We have a lot of long-term employees. People leave, but they always come back. Everyone’s been here on average 15 to 20 years,” said Johnson. “That is one advantage of coming to a place like this is the knowledge. You don’t get that when you go to Home Depot. We try to get things done efficiently and cost effective as possible.”

Johnson explained that while the Billings team can sell lawnmowers and snow blowers, they also have a full parts department with roughly $500,000 in inventory and service area. In fact, Johnson is one of the mechanics.

They fit snowplows to trucks, tune up a motor and find the right belt for the equipment. The staff in the showroom are knowledgeable and friendly, making it a comfortable experience for all.

“The coolest thing is it’s a third generation, family-owned business,” said Johnson. “That doesn’t happen very often.”

 

1241 W 14 Mile Rd
Clawson, MI 48017
248.541.0138

billingslawn.com

 

 

 

 

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Tis The Season To Shop Local Retailers List

Tis The Season To Shop Local Retailers List

by | Dec 18, 2018 | LBN Community Series, Small Business

’Tis the Season to
Shop Local
Retailers List

19

DECEMBER 2018

Throughout the year we have featured a number of wonderful local retailers you may want to consider for last minute Christmas gifts.  Here are links to those business’ LBN articles:

SEE OUR PREVIOUS ARTICLES ON SMALL BUSINESS

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Joe’s Army Navy: A Great Place for Stocking Stuffers

Joe’s Army Navy: A Great Place for Stocking Stuffers

by | Dec 13, 2018 | Joe's Army Navy, LBN Community Series, Royal Oak

Joe’s Army Navy: A Great Place for Stocking Stuffers

13

DECEMBER 2018

BY REBECCA CALAPPI

LBN Community Series
Royal Oak

Jeff Goldsmith has never met a gas mask he didn’t like. Good thing for him they fit right in at Joe’s Army Navy Surplus.

Jeff Goldsmith is now the owner of the store, which has been a Royal Oak mainstay since 1976.

“Dad bought the business with a partner in 1972 when it was in Pontiac,” said Goldsmith.

JEFF GOLDSMITH

OWNER, JOE’S ARMY NAVY SURPLUS

After Goldsmith’s dad, Herman, split with his business partner in the 1970s, he kept the Pontiac store, while the ex-partner opened a store in Royal Oak. Herman decided to move the store from Pontiac to Waterford, where they still do a brisk business.

Jeff Goldsmith joined his father in the business in 1985.

Three years later, Herman bought the inventory from the Royal Oak store in a bank auction from his ex-partner and re-opened Joe’s Army Navy in Royal Oak on Main Street. Then, in 2001, as parking became more and more of an issue, they moved the store north on Woodward Avenue.

Now, at 87, Herman is retired, but still comes in to the store every day. “He does the payables, but he’s not as active on the floor as he used to be,” said Jeff Goldsmith. “He makes my life easier.”

While the store carries family history for the Goldsmiths, it’s a virtual treasure trove for military enthusiasts, preppers, those who spend a lot of time outdoors and anyone who is serious about staying warm in the winter.

Joe’s carries all kinds of cold weather gear from authentic military pea coats, hats and gloves, to Carhartt brand apparel, boots that protect against the cold to minus 10 degrees and long johns.

Not what you’re looking for? Goldsmith said he has 200 kinds of pocket knives, 40 different tactical boots, 30 distinctive tent stakes, 12 brands of military and commercial blankets and a wall of bags.

“And year-round we sell thousands and thousands of socks,” said Goldsmith.

“If you’re looking for gear, they’ve got it from A to Z here.”

Not blind to the conveniences of online shopping, Goldsmith is proud to be able to offer those who need a break from the cold an excellent selection, without the wait for delivery.

Michael Stone, of Warren, is one of those people. “I was looking for a pair of boots,” he said. “I have construction boots on and sometimes they just don’t cut it. If you’re looking for gear, they’ve got it from A to Z here.”

Stone said that this purchase was his first at Joe’s Army Navy, but it won’t be his last. In fact, he plans on bringing his girlfriend to the store soon to do some shopping.

But Joe’s Army Navy has even more interesting things going for it. Take the military surplus items available. While the United States military no longer sells surplus items at auction, other countries still do. Shoppers can find coats from Germany, gas masks from Israel and blankets from Croatia. A wall of ammo cans in every size and camouflage tarping is at the back of the store. Military carry consignment items are also available, so those interested in U.S. military items can find a few gems, too.

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“Army Navy stores have an aura of ‘You never know what you’ll find,’” said Goldsmith. “I don’t want them to find something they can get in a Dick’s or Dunham’s. We’re kind of a catch-all.”

Shoppers can also have personalized military dog tags made in the store for just one person, or a whole party. Morale patches, military pins, first aid supplies, flashlights and MREs—meals ready to eat—all make unique gift ideas.

“We’re like the kings of stocking stuffers,” said Goldsmith.

32302 Woodward Ave
Royal Oak, MI 48073
248.549.2692

981 West Huron
Waterford, MI 48328
248.681.5277

joesarmynavyonline.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Birmingham’s Primi Piatti Market: Sharing the Gifts of Italy

Birmingham’s Primi Piatti Market: Sharing the Gifts of Italy

by | Dec 5, 2018 | Birmingham, LBN Community Series, Primi Piatti

Birmingham’s
Primi Piatti Market: Sharing the Gifts of Italy

06

NOVEMBER 2018

BY HONEY MURRAY

LBN Community Series
Birmingham

Monica Bisignano Zamler, owner of Birmingham’s Primi Piatti Market, looks conspiringly at her manager, Brittne Drake, while recalling an experience with a long-time customer who recently had her first baby.

“Remember, Brittne?” she smiles. “Our customer who was no longer allowed to eat our ‘Parma’ sandwich with prosciutto (thinly sliced, dry-cured Italian ham), mozzarella, and tomato — that she ordered almost daily – once she became pregnant?”

MONICA BISIGNANO ZAMLER

OWNER, PRIMI PIATTI MARKET

“As soon as she was discharged from the hospital,” Monica laughs, “the first thing she did was come in to get that sandwich!”

“I remember that!” agrees Brittne.

At Birmingham’s north end, “down the hill” and cozily tucked into a row of small, unique, and well-appointed shops, Primi Piatti makes a visitor feel like they’ve been transported to the most charming and abundantly stocked Italian deli, market, and gift store in all of southern Italy.

Tall metal racks are brimming with tins, bottles, cello bags, jars, and colorful boxes filled with breadsticks and biscuits, gift-wrapped cakes and cookies, oils and vinegars, spices, candies, olives and peppers – and more — all Italian-made.

Glass deli-display cases are lined with salamis and Italian hams and meats; wedges and bricks and slices of Parmigiano Reggiano, Pecorino, provolone, ricotta and other imported Italian cheeses; fettucine,  ricotta-filled gnocchi, rigatoni, or whatever handmade pasta has just been lovingly made in small batches using the trustworthy pasta-making machine (also from Italy) which stands like a benevolent sentry behind the counter, ready to loyally attend to its tasks; and homemade meatballs and sauces, their rich, swirling aromas tantalizing every customer.

Rustic cupboards and painted wooden shelves hold fine, hand-worked Deruta ceramics, pottery from Vietri Sul Mare, hand-blown Murano glassware and glass goblets from Tuscany.

“The Italian meal is not just about delicious food,” says Monica. “It’s also about the presentation: the serving bowls, place settings, glassware, tablecloths. The entire experience is beautiful!”

Monica, who was raised in Birmingham, warmly recalls her upbringing in an Italian household.

“The Italian meal is not just about delicious food. It’s also about the presentation: the serving bowls, place settings, glassware, tablecloths. The entire experience is beautiful!”

“We were always about cooking and family,” she says, “and we still are.”

Monica recently purchased a home in Italy with her sister and brother-in-law and has been to Italy so many times that she no longer keeps count of the number of her visits. But she does bring home ideas for dishes and recipes – which her mom and son (a chef at a Metro Detroit restaurant) compete to replicate.

And she is always inspired by the Italian pottery she finds in her travels.

“I source from all over Italy,” she says. “Everything is one-of-a-kind. And we have such wonderful pottery gifts, even dog bowls, cat bowls, and handmade jars for pet treats.”

“We also offer an online wedding registry so couples can receive place settings, serving bowls and dishes, glassware, cutting boards, and other unique items that have a range of prices.”

Twenty-five-year-old Brittne has accompanied Monica on a couple of her trips.

“I went to an olive grove to see how they make the oil that we sell here,” she says.

As Brittne cuts the rows of roasted red-pepper shell pasta that exude from the machine she says, “I love anything Italian. My mom and dad are good cooks, and I’ve always liked to work with food. I heard about Monica, and am so glad to be working here, where everything is from Italy – except me,” she laughs, “though Italy is in my heart. I’ve learned so much here!”

“I couldn’t do this without Brittne,” exclaims Monica, “or all of our loyal customer following!”

On Sundays, the store fills with many of that loyal following who come to buy the homemade ravioli that is Sunday’s special item.

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“It only takes three minutes to cook when you’re ready to make your dinner at home,” Brittne explains.

“I’m thinking about making beet and mascarpone or mushroom ravioli this week,” Monica notes. “And we always have meat ravioli, too, on Sundays.”

“On Saturdays in December, my mom, Nonna Bisignano, will be here making her pizzelles (thin, waffle-like cookies made using a special iron, sometimes with a light flavor of anise).”

 

“And I’ll be traveling soon again to Italy, to bring back more beautiful pottery pieces and other items,” says Monica. “I love to go to Italy, and it’s good to have a reason to go.”

“I’ve figured out what would make me happy,” she shares, “and it’s this!”

Primi Piatti Market
550 N. Old Woodward
Birmingham, MI  48009
248-566-3353
primipiattimarket.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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From a Family of Rock Collectors to a Royal Oak Staple

From a Family of Rock Collectors to a Royal Oak Staple

by | Dec 5, 2018 | LBN Community Series, Miner's Den, Royal Oak

From a Family of Rock Collectors to a Royal Oak Staple
05
NOVEMBER 2018
BY REBECCA CALAPPI
LBN Community Series
Royal Oak
The Royal Oak jewelry staple, Miner’s Den, came about because Mike Schowalter’s mother had had enough.

The Showalters are a family of rock collectors and every vacation was spent in mines, on beaches or in the Upper Peninsula collecting rocks.

“Back in the early ‘70s our hobby had risen to the point where our garage was full, and my mother was getting perturbed,” said Mike Showalter. “So, my father rented a building on Rochester Road.”

MIKE SHOWALTER, BARBARA TOURANGEAU & TOM SHOWALTER

OWNERS, MINER’S DEN JEWELRY
It was a small store front—office space, really. The Miner’s Den soon became a Mecca for rock hounds—the Showalters would polish and cut the rocks and gems hobbyist geologists brought to them.

“Our business evolved from catering to the hobbyist for cutting rocks and cutting gems, then carrying the machines to make jewelry, then to making jewelry ourselves,” said Showalter. “For a long time, we were doing repairs and creations for other jewelers, but we do our own now.”

While still in the original location bought by Frank Showalter, Miner’s Den now covers five adjacent office spaces and is run by three siblings: Mike Showalter, Tom Showalter and Barbara Tourangeau. Their parents also worked at the store until they passed away.

“The name ‘Miner’s Den,’ came from miners in the family,” said Showalter. “Dad was a gold miner in Alaska and as kids it was our passion to mine and collect rocks.”

Laid out by price point, there’s something for every budget at Miner’s Den.

“There are fun gifts in jewelry and there’s important times in jewelry,” said Showalter.

At one end of the store, customers who enjoy geology can find rocks, gems, fossils and more.

Miner’s Den also has a large selection of polished rocks and gems that are indigenous to Michigan, with plenty of Petoskey stone, meteorite and even some fordite, which is taken from automotive plants. Fordite is layers and layers of paint that is removed from the robotic arms that paint cars. After fordite is set and polished, different wave patterns in various colors pop.

Jean Guccini of Royal Oak is a long-time customer of Miner’s Den.

“I have been coming here for Christmas gifts for at least 10 years,” Guccini said. “You get very personalized service.”

In fact, Guccini recently brought one of her mother’s rings to the store to be resized as a gift. Guccini’s granddaughter was graduating from college and she wanted to give her something special.

“It was important to me to have the confidence to leave the ring with people who will take care of it,” Guccini said.

The other side of the store is fine jewelry.

“It was important to me to have the confidence to leave the ring with people who will take care of it.”
Designers use the latest in CAD/CAM computer programs with a 3D printer and blue light scanning to ensure customers get the perfect creation.

“Our biggest product line is custom engagement rings created in house at a more favorable price than those that are mass produced,” said Showalter.

They also created a special-cut for a diamond to nearly double the facets making it even more radiant—The Big Bang Diamond.

“The normal diamond one encounters is the 58-facet what’s called the modern brilliant cut,” said Showalter. “We’ve taken it a step further and modified the 58-facet modern brilliant cut to what we call our Big Bang Diamond. With extra facets to the point where we have 89 facets.”

Miner’s Den also carries Excalibur diamonds—lab created, 100-percent real diamonds grown in the laboratory. Nothing distinguishes Excalibur diamonds from geologic diamonds except very specific lab testing. Those in the market for a larger diamond on a budget find these gems more affordable.

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“The beauty of what we have going on here, is you can recognize how enthusiastic we are. It’s the team,” said Showalter. “They love working on the design, it’s just their passion. We’re really, really lucky. I just like to look at the success of the employees here. They’ve allowed me to step back a little bit and have less responsibility. They want to take projects on themselves and grow to their potential.”

The skill and talent of the jewelers is renowned.

“We are the people that are referred to if nobody else can repair it because we have a diverse group of experience. They have the ability to look at, and fix, damn near anything,” Showalter said of the jewelers on site.

“Our common cause here is making the customer happy. We just relish every day. What a great crew we have here,” said Showalter.

3417 S. Rochester Road,
Royal Oak, Michigan 48073
248.585.6950
minersden.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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