James Lumber Consolidating

James Lumber of Flint, Mich., will close four stores and consolidate to a single site at its current Fenton Road location, according to The Flint Journal.

Doug Graham Jr., one of James' owners, told the Journal it plans to close other Michigan locations in Grand Blanc, Ortonville, Oxford and a Flint location at Longway Boulevard and Dort Highway.

"We had to do it to make it through this winter," Graham told the newspaper. Graham also said that James had 109 employees as of June and he had to inform all but 25 of the workers that their jobs will be eliminated by year's end.

The Journal reports that in a letter, James said it will liquidate all merchandise at its closing stores, with the first opportunities going to its long-standing customers and, as part of the sales, it will hold drawings for prizes.

The Journal said Graham dismissed a suggestion that "big box" stores were a direct factor in the restructuring. Todd Seibt of The Flint Journal wrote, "The construction and lumber supply scene in Genesee County has changed drastically in the past few years - changes that rapidly accelerated this year. A soft home-building market has hurt many homebuilders, and economic doldrums have slowed homebuying, selling and upgrades."

According to Seibt, James Lumber is the second long-standing lumber supply in that area to undergo "drastic changes." He reports that S&M Lumber, in business for more than 50 years in Flushing, filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy and sold its trucks, equipment and inventory at auction.

In spite of the situation, Graham told the Journal, "We are still going to have [building] expertise at Fenton Road. We are staying in business, and we think we will be better than ever."