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Old Grange Co-op demolished Mail Tribune/Jim Craven Sams Valley resident Vernon Gebhard uses a trackhoe claw to tear down the last remnants of Central Point�s abandoned Grange Co-op building, revealing the new Co-op behind it. Gebhard, a member of the Co-op�s board, approved the now-demolished building�s construction in 1965. By Jill Briskey CENTRAL POINT � Sams Valley resident Vernon Gebhard took one last look at the abandoned Grange Co-op building before climbing into seat of a trackhoe to tear the old building down. "Progress," he said, adjusting his hard hat. Gebhard, who sits on the Co-op�s board of directors, had approved the construction of Central Point�s retail store off Front Street in 1965. Coming full circle, Gebhard took the controls Friday morning and helped tear down the structure he helped create. Bystanders watched as the dust settled, revealing a new retail store directly behind the old one. Costing over $1 million, General Manager Barry Robino said the project � which began in 1999 � will be completed next week. Robino said work began when the store�s seed warehouse was remodeled into a lawn and garden facility. A new feed warehouse, complete with loading docks, was constructed on Ash Street across from the main building. The next phase, according to Russ Batzer, president of the Medford company Batzer Inc., included tearing down the old feed warehouse built in 1944 and constructing the new lawn and garden store in its place. All that�s left, Robino added, is to pave the parking lot. "This has been planned for many years," Robino said. "Now we�re really a complete store." In addition to lawn and garden care, the new 22,000-square-foot retail facility features hardware, automotive and power equipment, pet supplies, fencing and irrigation equipment. Through each phase of construction, the facility remained open to customers. "It�s been interesting working around them, but that�s what we do," Batzer said, whose company completed the work. The new building�s entryway is modeled after the Co-op�s grain elevator a few blocks away on Highway 99. Robino said a mural depicting Central Point from a distance will be added inside. The decision to expand the Co-op�s retail facilities in the Rogue Valley � built almost 35 years ago � has translated into success, Robino said. Agriculture is still the core of the Co-op, Robino said. The feed and fertilizer plants in Central Point are still operating and crop analysts serve customers on a regional scale, and farmers and ranchers are still buying their fuel from the grange. But the Rogue Valley�s five retail stores have helped the Co-op reach a more diversified customer base, Robino said. When the Central Point Co-op was founded in 1934, 99 members contributed $10 to start up the business. Gebhard said sales have been on the rise to $28 million in 2000. That�s up from $25 million in 1995, Gebhard said, laughing as he spoke about sales back in 1965 � about $2.4 million. A lifelong resident who manages a farm in the Sams Valley area, Gebhard said Central Point�s new retail store will help unite the community by providing services to everyone. "It�s certainly going to put us in a more competitive position in the valley," Gebhard said. "With all the growth we�ve had here, especially in Central Point, we�re hoping to be able to serve everyone." Reach reporter Jill Briskey at 776-4485, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2000 Mail Tribune, Inc.