Roemer's sale marks end of era

After 117 years in business in Santa Maria, Roemer's is being sold to San Luis Obispo County Farm Supply Co.

The sale was announced Friday by brothers Robert and Vard Roemer, co-owners of Roemer's, and Jim Brabeck, president and chief executive officer of Farm Supply.

Brabeck said escrow is scheduled to close July 1, and that month the Santa Maria Farm Supply store will move to the current site of Roemer's on North Broadway.

“We're very humbled to be able to acquire a company that's been in business since 1890 - that's over 100 years of very successful service to that county,” said Brabeck.

He said the Roemers agreeing to sell to Farm Supply is “a huge honor. We're very pleased about it.”

Robert Roemer said he and his brother chose to sell to Farm Supply because of that company's reputation, similar products and style of operation.

“Their style of operation is very, very similar to ours,” he said. “They're very low key and focused in on customer service.”

Roemer said he and his brother plan to focus on their other business interests.

The sale represents the end of a long era for the Roemer family.

The Roemer family business, which today sells agricultural supplies, clothing and hardware, was started by Robert and Vard's great-grandfather, Joseph Roemer.

“We had a good run, if you figure the business was started in 1890,” Roemer said. “Back then, we were the blacksmiths and wagon makers in town. The business changed and the name changed, but it was always family-operated as we adapted over the years.”

Joseph Roemer passed the business on to his son, Alfred, who was a partner in Roemer and Elliott Pump and with his brother, Frank, in a Buick dealership, and served as mayor of Santa Maria in 1947. He passed the business to his son, Glenn.

The business nearly left the family's hands back in 1977. Although Robert and Vard both worked at the store, sweeping up floors and so forth when they were young, neither wanted to be in the family business, Robert said.

They both went off to pursue other interests, Vard graduating from the University of Oregon and Robert from UCSB. Both earned master's degrees and teaching credentials and began teaching at Central Coast schools.

Then their father decided he wanted to retire and told his boys he would close it if no one in the family would take it over. The brothers didn't want that and “out of guilt, I think, we exited the teaching arena,” Robert said.

Now, the brothers want to retire, but their four children have already chosen other careers - one a librarian, one a lawyer and two teachers - and live out of the area, so they decided to sell.

“I figured none of the kids would come back and load feed,” Robert said with a chuckle. “Unfortunately, it ends with us, but I think we've chosen some great people (to take over).”

Maintaining tradition

Robert said it's gotten harder for Roemer's to compete with the big-box stores that sell similar wares.

But he noted Farm Supply has four stores - in Santa Maria, San Luis Obispo, Arroyo Grande and Paso Robles - and is proving successful and expanding.

“They're really a good success story,” he said. “The San Luis Obispo store is first-class, and the Arroyo Grande store is very attractive. Farm Supply is on the upswing, they're upgrading, and they have a tremendously good reputation for customer service and as a good employer.”

“They're the most closely associated firm in types of products, viewpoint and customer service,” Robert noted. “They are first-quality people and they've always been good, fair competition - and good friends.”

He added, “We have always maintained contact with Farm Supply people, especially Jim Brabeck, who has worked there for, I think, over 30 years. I have a great amount of respect for Jim and the way he runs the company.”

Roemer's and Farm Supply have served many of the same customers for more than 57 years.

Farm Supply Co. is a 2,300-member agricultural cooperative with headquarters in San Luis Obispo. The company has had a store in Santa Maria since 1989, when it purchased Hanson Equipment at Blosser Road and Main Street.

Brabeck said Farm Supply has purchased all Roemer's inventory and fixtures, but will continue to offer much the same products it currently carries at the Blosser Road store.

“We have very similar products,” Brabeck said. “They have some products we don't - they carry more clothing than we have. It will be a blending of the two stores.

“It will give an opportunity for our customers to get in and out a little easier,” he added.

Although Frank and Vard Roemer will assist with the management of the new Farm Supply location to ensure a smooth transition, they plan to spend more time on their other businesses, VARO Investments and ROVA Properties.

And Frank joked he has a “short list” of jobs he can apply for, supplied by the friends - mostly retired farmers and ranchers - he has coffee with in the mornings at McDonald's

“The first on the list was ‘Greeter at Wal-Mart,'” he said. “The second was just two words: ‘Crossing guard.' So if you see crossing guard who looks familiar and he waves, that's me.”

Mike Hodgson can be reached at 739-2221 or mhodgson@santamariatimes.com.

May 26, 2007