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,
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.