Weekend shoppers show support for Blenko Glass

February 02, 2009 @ 08:50 PM

JEAN TARBETT HARDIMAN

The Herald-Dispatch

MILTON -- After a weekend of strong sales, Blenko Glass Co. still faces an uncertain future, Assistant Vice President Katie Trippe said Monday afternoon.

Supporters flocked to the store Saturday after news spread that the longtime, hand-made glass manufacturer was shutting down production because of financial problems. So far, it's laid off all but about 20 of its 50 employees, and the company plans to seek legal counsel before filing for bankruptcy or making a decision about whether to close its doors for good.

The shutdown came after its accounts were emptied by Big Two Mile, a gas company to which Blenko owed a $500,000 court judgment.

"We've had a good weekend, but all it's going to allow us to do is replenish what was taken," Trippe said. "We're still working on the inventory. This was only about half of what we do on the day after Thanksgiving. It was good, but they didn't wipe us out. Thanksgiving wipes us out."

The busy weekend will help them cover payroll, though it may be a few days behind, she said.

Blenko, now under the leadership of President Walter Blenko of Pittsburgh and his nephew Don Blankenship of Wellesley, Mass., had invested about $2 million into the company in the past three years, updating equipment and trying to turn the business into a profitable one. About four years ago, Big Two Mile sued Blenko after a dispute about bills that hadn't been paid, and a court ruled in favor of the gas company.

Blenko hadn't yet paid on the $500,000 judgment, in hopes that it could repay Big Two Mile after it started bringing in more money, Blenko reported last week. But Blenko was informed last week that Big Two Mile had taken the money from its bank accounts, a legal action under the circumstances, Walter Blenko said.

For now, Blenko's Visitors Center, which includes its glass shop, remains open and merchandise remains for those who want to show their support, Trippe said.

"A lot of people are sad to have it going on and sending letters to the governor or the media," she said.

Milton Mayor Betty Sargent said her biggest concern is for the employees. Blenko is outside city limits and therefore does not pay business and occupation taxes. "But we have people who live in the area and spend money here, and needless to say, it will have some impact on us," she said. "We certainly hope the state will intervene with Blenko and help them somehow."

Kelley Goes, secretary of the West Virginia Department of Commerce, said the state has been in continuous contact with Blenko in recent years through the retention efforts of the state's Business and Industrial Development section. It's undetermined right now whether the state will get involved, she said.

"We're in contact with them on a regular basis, but the state has a defined set of programs and things that can be done for any business, and it remains to be seen whether any of those programs are something that could be used," Goes said.

Trippe said Blenko is asking community members and supporters to "hang in there with us because we're still trying," she said.