Bruce Vincent finally figured it was time to retire after almost 20 years of operating Bill’s Mower and Saw.
His foray into the world of rest and relaxation lasted exactly four days.
Since he had already sold the building on Main Street near downtown that had been a community staple for more than a decade, Vincent quickly found another location on North Main Street behind Carquest that would suit his needs and give him a completely remodeled set of digs.
And once again, Bill’s Mower and Saw is up and ready for business.
“I had an opportunity to sell the building that we were in, and I figured that would be as good of a time as any to retire,” he said.
“But by the next week, I had the urge to find somewhere else here in town and open it up again.
“It just wasn’t something that I was ready to walk away from.”
Inside the uniquely shaped building located in the rear parcel behind Carquest on North Main Street, Vincent has transformed what would otherwise be just a vacant space into a haven for those looking for that ultimate outdoor maintenance tool. The store carries a full line of the well-reputed Stihl and Husqvarna chainsaws that can handle anything from that pesky tree in the front yard to the cords of wood you’re hoping to stack up for the winter.
And when it comes to lawn maintenance, Bill’s carries only the best – including the complete lines of both Toro and Snapper mowers that each carry 15-year warranties as long as they’re properly maintained.
While the quality of the products he carries is one of the reasons that he loves dealing with customers – offering them the best products that money can buy – it’s also the interaction with people that made his “retirement” so short lived.
And while customers might save a buck going to a chain store, Vincent is a strong believer that when it comes to things like mowers and chainsaws, you’re going to get what you pay for – and that alone will end up paying for itself several times over as long as it is properly maintained.
“We’ve been in town for a long time and we have a reputation here, and that’s something that means a lot to me,” Vincent said. “Not being able to deal with customers and help them find what they need for their particular job isn’t something that I was quite ready to do.
“Being on the other side of the counter and having that relationship with the customers is really what has kept me doing this for as long as I have.”
Bill’s Mower and Saw is located at 852 N. Main Street behind Carquest.
The business is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, call 825-0200.
