Oh my! How do I even start this announcement?

As most of you already know, Black Mountain has been my home for the past 16 years or so and I truly love it here and especially all the people I have had the privalege to meet and serve. I suppose I should make it clear up front that even though we’re moving the shop, we will still be serving the area and maintaining our customers needs.

Beginning March 15th or so we will be moving into a larger showroom in downtown Rutherfordton, NC. That’s just about 40 miles away so we’ll still be close by to serve our many friends in and around Black Mountain.

We will be located at 126 W. Court Street, Rutherfordton, NC 28139.

I’ve already been asked, “why you moving Jack?” so let me go ahead and let everyone know what’s going on with my decision to move from Black Mountain.

There are numerous motivating factors. I have actually been looking at Rutherfordton for many years as a location for a stove shop. Years ago when I was working with Bob at Black Mountain Stove & Chimney, we would kick around ideas of opening another store and Rutherfordton is a place I liked a lot. 

REASON 1: Rutherfordton is far enough away to be distinct but close enough to still ensure the Western North Carolina mountain culture is a part of my life and work. I am a native of these mountains and would never want to leave them or the fine people here.

When my good friend and former employer Bob Orr sold his store a couple years ago, I did not move with the new owners and opened my own store. It has been great and being in Black Mountain has been as wonderful as ever. I rented a small space from Bob and it has served well for actually getting my own place going.

Now Bob has re-acquired his store and is bringing Black Mountain Stove & Chimney back online. This is great news! Bob is an old stove man and I kinda knew he couldn’t really retire from something that is in your blood. As you might already be thinking, renting my store from Bob who is now a block away with his own store again might be a little odd for 2 old friends like us. You’re right! Bob and I have been together way too long to be competitors, so we’ll put a little space between us and make more happy customers over a broader area.

REASON 2: Black Mountain is in good hands again with my friend Bob who started his shop here over 30 years ago. If it weren’t for Bob and Black Mountain Stove & Chimney, I likely would have never been in Black Mountain anyway. I can better hope for Bob’s continued success if I take my next step in Rutherfordton.

The other has to do with our industry. When you’re dealing with world-renowned products, these manufacturers are very strict on lots of things. One of the biggest things they want is professional representation. You can’t just sell something because you want to or even because you are qualified to. You also commit to seve and support your “territory”. Buncombe and Haywood county is saturated and offers no opportunities for me with the brands I want to represent. Rutherfordton offers me an open territory where I can represent manufacturers that want me to represent them. This is a very critical part our business. The demographics check out good. Manufacturers are already beating on me to bring them in and I will have a suitable location to do so. It’s just a logical business move for me to move “down the mountain” a little bit to open up many options for the business.

REASON 3: Territorial opportunities.

In closing I want to assure everyone in our current market that I WILL CONTINUE TO SERVE THIS AREA. We will maintain our local Asheville phone number and will remain in the phone book. Just give us a call when you need us. Remember, we’re only 40 miles away.

Thank You!

Jack