Ann Arbor area Lowe's stores escape list of store closings
The Ann Arbor area's two Lowe's stores escaped the list of store closings the chain announced Monday.
Lowe's Companies Inc., which operates home improvement stores on Jackson Road in Scio Township and Carpenter Road in Pittsfield Township, is closing 20 stores nationwide. The list of store closings, which involved nearly 2,000 job cuts, included one store in Michigan.
The company also abandoned plans to open some new stores, cutting its growth from 30 new stores a year to 10 to 15 starting in 2012.
“Closing stores is never easy, given the impact on hard-working employees and local communities,” said Lowe's CEO Robert A. Niblock said in a statement. “However, we have an obligation to make tough decisions when necessary to improve profitability and strengthen our financial position.
Analysts applauded the move, according to MarketWatch, which quoted one expert describing the shuttered stores as “ex-urban locations hit worst by the implosion in housing markets from 2007 to 2010.”
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Comments
Michigan_Jayhawk
Thu, Oct 20, 2011 : 6:29 p.m.
Of the 20 store closings announced, I can find none in Michigan.
Anthony Clark
Fri, Oct 21, 2011 : 1:03 a.m.
Ionia. Not exactly an "ex-urban location". I'm surprised they can't make it there. There are no other home improvement type stores for many miles.
Basic Bob
Thu, Oct 20, 2011 : 11:13 p.m.
Ionia.
say it plain
Thu, Oct 20, 2011 : 5:16 p.m.
I'm just amazed that this area can keep *two* Lowe's within a relatively short drive between them, *plus* a Home Depot...I guess compared to the rest of the consuming universe, we truly *are* fairly resilient to a down down economy ;-)
say it plain
Thu, Oct 20, 2011 : 6:02 p.m.
I like the Scio Township store myself, and doubtless it's more convenient than the Pittsfield one for people on the WestSide of Ann Arbor generally too...clearly there's a decent market for this sort of shopping around here!
Marilyn Wilkie
Thu, Oct 20, 2011 : 5:39 p.m.
Most of these big box stores have landed between Ypsi and Ann Arbor (Pittsfield Township, etc.) It has been nice not to have to drive all the way over there to shop. No exit onto Carpenter Road from 94 doesn't help.
Marilyn Wilkie
Thu, Oct 20, 2011 : 3:30 p.m.
Whew, I feel like we dodged a bullet. We too have done our fair share to keep Lowe's open. HOWEVER, we have found that Fingerle's has better prices and higher quality on some things. Please don't forget to spend at our local businesses too.
actionjackson
Sun, Oct 23, 2011 : 6:05 p.m.
I like Fingerles' assortment and their staff a great deal.
smokeblwr
Thu, Oct 20, 2011 : 6:09 p.m.
Fingerle's selection is much wider than HD or Lowe's. Lots of cool stuff there and they are the same price if not better on similar pieces.
geswerks
Thu, Oct 20, 2011 : 3:05 p.m.
As much as I'd hate to see a large employer leave town, I have to say I've shifted as many trips to a big-box home store like this OVER TO OUR SMALLER LOCAL SHOPS as much as possible. Local hardware stores, local lawnmower stores, local paint stores. I've cut my spending on all this stuff - but when I DO have to shop, I'm choosing to support the locally owned stores as much as possible. Sorry big-box.
actionjackson
Sun, Oct 23, 2011 : 6:02 p.m.
These stores are supplying jobs to local folks along with insurance, pensions, and job security in most cases. Call em big box however the big box is full of little local employees.
Thomas
Thu, Oct 20, 2011 : 5:36 p.m.
I did the same recently with a snow thrower and the best thing it was $30 cheaper at the local store than the big-box.
tdw
Thu, Oct 20, 2011 : 2:05 p.m.
I haven't read any comments yet but I'm gonna bet there's gonna be some Lowe's bashing.After all this A2 and they're a big national chain.Could be wrong let's see
smokeblwr
Thu, Oct 20, 2011 : 6:08 p.m.
I frequent every hardware store in town. Each is good for certain things. Nobody beats Fingerle if you need to buy a bunch of wood, Stadium Hardware is the place to go if you're in a hurry in the middle of a project, need a specific part and need some advice on how to install it, the big box places are good if you need to pick up a whole bunch of stuff and know what you're looking for.
tdw
Thu, Oct 20, 2011 : 2:08 p.m.
Nope, I was wrong ( again ).A2.com no need to remove comments bashing me
Elaine F. Owsley
Thu, Oct 20, 2011 : 1:27 p.m.
Lowe's is evidently smarter about expansion than Borders was, or several other companies in the past few years. In a slow economy "bigger" is not necessarily "better" or in many cases "safer".
Buster W.
Thu, Oct 20, 2011 : 6:43 p.m.
I'll bet Home Depot (and Lowes) are glad that a Home Depot wasn't built on Jackson Road 5-10 years ago on the Mercywood lot.
Buster W.
Thu, Oct 20, 2011 : 6:36 p.m.
jns131 Me too. I'm pretty much 50/50 with Home Depot and Lowes.
Thomas
Thu, Oct 20, 2011 : 5:34 p.m.
i was thinking the same thing when i read the article.
jns131
Thu, Oct 20, 2011 : 4:21 p.m.
We ended up using both Lowes and Home Depot when we remodeled and added a bathroom. Home Depot had things I needed for one bathroom but for others Lowes came thru in pinch. Seems if you want a certain colored toilet you have to go thru Lowes, but if you want a certain faucet system, Home Depot was were we ended up at. So for now? It is half dozen and one half.
smokeblwr
Thu, Oct 20, 2011 : 1 p.m.
I think I've personally kept the local Lowe's in business over the past few years. Your welcome everybody.
Hmm
Thu, Oct 20, 2011 : 12:59 p.m.
Is the Lowes company in financial difficulties now? Hadn't heard anything about this till now
OLDTIMER3
Thu, Oct 20, 2011 : 11:24 a.m.
I think the Scio store is a much friendlier and less cluttered store than the Pittsfield store.
jns131
Thu, Oct 20, 2011 : 4:22 p.m.
I found the one in Canton to be much more friendlier then the one on Carpenter road.
Cash
Thu, Oct 20, 2011 : 10:46 a.m.
Sad for those in areas where the stores are being closed.
Basic Bob
Thu, Oct 20, 2011 : 10:20 a.m.
The Pittsfield Lowe's is always busy and they keep it up well. If they were to close, I'm sure Menard's would put up a big sign out back by the freeway and move right in.