Ruedrich says complaints are easily explained

PALMER -- The grand opening of Spenard Builders Supply's new Palmer store off Inner Springer Loop on Thursday proved that, in addition to being attentive to all matters involving home construction and improvement, the store's staff knows how to lure its customers.

Visitors to the Palmer store found free refreshments, colorful decorations, live music and shelves filled with brand-new merchandise. A fountain bedecked with National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing paraphernalia was as the centerpiece for the celebration, which included not only dignitaries from the company and the city of Palmer, but also local mushers DeeDee Jonrowe and Martin Buser.

"Make no mistake about it, we're here to wow you with the store," said Joel Lynch, manager of the new branch.

The ceremony featured speeches by SBS workers and officials, and culminated with a truly Alaskan ribbon-cutting that featured two teams cutting through ribbon-wrapped logs with old-fashioned two-handed draw saws. This longtime tradition is performed at the opening of every SBS store, and features a lighthearted competition to be the first to slice through the log, thus symbolically opening the store for business. The team of Jonrowe and LoAnn Larson, vice president of Human Resources for SBS, outpaced the muscular and heavily favored Buser-Lynch team and won the contest by rapidly cutting a thin wooden dowel concealed under their log.

Buser and Lynch good-naturedly conceded the victory.

This grand opening is only the beginning of a week-long extravaganza, lasting until April 23, celebrating the arrival of the store. Visitors to the store during this time will have a chance to win a trip to NASCAR's Checker Auto Parts 500 in Phoenix this November. A two-seater Kasea Kart dune buggy also will be given away during the grand opening.

SBS president Ed Waite said at the opening that, after SBS acquired Homesteader's Lumber and Hardware in Wasilla, leaving the business with two Wasilla stores, it simply made practical sense to move to Palmer. The business leaders had been thinking about a move to Palmer for more than 10 years, he said.

"Palmer's a great place, and we've been thinking about moving there for a long time," Waite said. "We're a growing company, and we're very excited about growing with Palmer and the Valley."

Waite mentioned that the new Palmer store is primarily staffed by employees from the former Homesteader's store, and the new location offers many advantages over the Wasilla Homesteader's, including the addition of an interior design section.

"The layout and features of the Palmer store reflect the needs of our Valley customers. We gave great thought and consideration to what our customers are looking for, and we think the store's design and product offerings are proof of that process," said Waite in a press release.

The new Palmer site offers 19,000-square-feet of build-

ing and warehouse space, with an additional 10,000 feet or so of outdoor storage and facilities.

SBS Palmer's business hours are Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and the store is ready to begin selling to the public immediately.

This is the third Spenard Builders Supply branch in the Valley, with existing locations on the Parks Highway near Wasilla and Big Lake, and the 14th in the state.

"This grand opening is an exciting time for us, and we want to extend that feeling to our Valley customers," Lynch said. "The new store has so much to offer, such as more products, a larger yard inventory, and expanded delivery service. Contractors and do-it-yourselfers will find everything they need under one roof."

Lynch credited the store's success to its excellent staff and patrons alike.

"No one anywhere is more dedicated to taking care of you, our customers and our friends," he said.

Contact Daniel Spoth at daniel.spoth@frontiersman.com.