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What's next for Mendelson's?
After the liquidation outlet moves, redevelopment is in the works for the eight downtown buildings he owns.
Saturday, March 10, 2007
DAYTON — Sanford Mendelson has quietly nurtured plans for his East First Street properties for more than two decades.
Now is the time to make those plans real, the 63-year-old president of Mendelson's Liquidation Outlet said Friday, a day after he announced his retirement.
Extras
"I've got a plan. I don't write it all down. But it's in the computer right up here," Mendelson said, tapping his head with a finger.
The huge liquidation complex south of First across from Fifth Third Field will close for redevelopment, while the business itself will move to one of three possible spots the family is considering, Mendelson said.
He would not say where the business may move, but he said one of the possible locations is within Dayton.
And he said he intends to hold on to his eight downtown buildings.
The elder Mendelson is leaving the 47-year-old liquidation business to son Harlan, 38, and daughter Heather Mendelson-Goodrich, 35.
With Internet sales taking an ever larger chunk of business — last year, eBay accounted for about $1 million of the firm's $5 million in sales — the business needs less space. The model will be Meijer or Home Depot, said Harlan Mendelson — all merchandise on one vast level, covering 50,000 to 100,000 square feet.
The Internet remains in the company's future. The liquidation business has a 99.4 percent approval rating on eBay, Harlan Mendelson said.
The family's main building at 340 E. First St. offers 800,000 square feet. Another Mendelson-owned building — at 329 E. First St., between Patterson Boulevard and the ballfield — has about 200,000 square feet.
The latter building — which shares Don Crawford Plaza with the ballfield — has 30,000-square feet on each of six floors and 12-foot-high ceilings.
Mendelson talks of putting retail uses on that building's first floor, offices on the second and third floors, with condominiums above and penthouses on the sixth floor.
Mendelson has architects examining the building at 329 E. First St.
Mendelson said 329 E. First St. will get his first development push, although he sees possibilities for all the buildings he owns along First.
With a proposed $230 million riverfront development being examined, city officials agree that development possibilities are ripe.
"We're excited about the momentum," said Tom Biedenharn, city of Dayton spokesman.
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2390 or tgnau@DaytonDailyNews.com.
Mendelson's Liquidation Outlet
Founded: 1960.
Location: 340 E. First St. (the company's largest liquidation building)
Employees: More than 40.
Sales: $5 million in 2006. About $1 million of the business is conducted through the Internet.
Products sold: Nearly anything and everything, from clothing to coffee grinders, radiators to radar detectors.
New operators: Will be Harlan Mendelson, 38, and Heather Mendelson-Goodrich, 35, children of Sanford Mendelson, the company's president.
Comments
By Quincy
March 11, 2007 6:05 PM | Link to this
Sandy, I am sorry to see MENDELSON’S leave!! You all ar my stomping place. When I cannot find something…my uncle tells me to go to Mendelson’s they got it. And what can I say…YOU ALL HAVE IT!!! I will miss you all so so so much. Hey!,by the way, I need some more four-teared clothes racks! I hope you still have some? Be blest Sandy and enjoy your retirement. Hey where is the NEW store going? Let us know and we will follow faithfully. Bye :)
By CityResident
March 11, 2007 10:56 AM | Link to this
Daytonian…You are correct the City Mgr. runs the city with voting power by all commissioners and the mayor. But if the Mgr. is hired by the commission/mayor, what decisions will he/she routinely make? There is a collection of closed minded, self serving(political or “cause”) people on the commission who have appearance of fostering no ideas to stop the rapid decline. Money is the only catylist in city hall decisions..
By bill wilson
March 11, 2007 1:39 AM | Link to this
THE NOTION THAT THESE FILTHY OLD PLACES CAN BE RERIGGED AS HOUSING IS INSANE.THESE PROPERTIES ARE TEXT BOOK BROWN FIELDS.THEY NEED TO BE DEMOLISHED.TRUST ME,I AM MORE NOSTALGIC ABOUT DAYTON’S INDUSTRIAL HEYDAY THAN YOU COULD EVER BE.BUT REALITY TRUMPS NOSTALGIA EVERY SECOND.
By daytonian
March 10, 2007 8:33 PM | Link to this
Why does everybody always bring up the mayor as the reason the city is struggling? The city is not run by the mayor, it is run by the city manager. The mayor is simply one of five city commissioners. She may be more visible, but she is not making decisions on her own. In fact, mayor is only a part time job. There are many good people (both city employees and private citizens) who are working hard to make the city better. It is too bad you can’t see that since you’re so busy just bashing it
By Bruce M. Sheldon
March 10, 2007 8:30 PM | Link to this
I worked for both ot the Mendelsons,and I can tell you for myself they hired me when I lost my job at NCR,and yes I worked long hours and did many different jobs there, but they and Mom made feel like family.As for old stuff, sure but when you need a part for something NO longer made or the parts are no were to be found Sandy had them. Sandy I wish you well,and many more years to go. And don’t give into the dumb and stupied so called mayor if that is what they call her.TN.says Hi.
By taacscbrta
March 10, 2007 6:39 PM | Link to this
I’m sorry to see Menselson’s closing. It’s one of only two reasons to come downtown, the second being the Dragons. It’s too bad Dayton is dying, but few have cared over the years, especially now with our troll mayor with her ugly hats and odd glasses. Sandy hung in there, but I guess even he has his limits. Good luck, Sandy. Enjoy your retirement.
By one2watch
March 10, 2007 6:24 PM | Link to this
Change is good and the City of Dayton needs to see more changes. Unfortunately, the city is a sinking ship as long as Rhine is in office. Anyone with anything of any value i.e.- property, business, etc., located in the city should get out while they can! $mart move Sandy!
WE NEED CHANGE…A NEW SOBER MAYOR WOULD BE A GREAT MOVE IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. Is that asking too much??
By FSS
March 10, 2007 11:45 AM | Link to this
Jim… Would have been a ghost town? What you see now is all that there is! It’s time for voters to take inventory! It’s time for our non-effective mayor (along with her lousy hats) and city council members to go! Let’s just hope the Mendelson family stays and plays. Mendelson, Ohio… hmmm?… that has a good ring to it.
By CityResident
March 10, 2007 10:43 AM | Link to this
Sandy you will be missed. A great supporter of downtown and its public services. The only businessman to stand up against city hall’s brainless elite..with you leaving it brings up the thought you made at the Commission Meeting sometime ago…”the last one out turn out the lights.” Dayton is fast becoming overrun by drug addicted, drug selling, welfare supported, non-taxed “citizens”. I am happy you are able to move on…
By benkel
March 10, 2007 10:19 AM | Link to this
hard to believe sandy is hanging it up. probably jealouse of his brother Bruce enjoying Az. Good luck Sandy..will we see you soon in Scottsdale??
By pete
March 10, 2007 8:58 AM | Link to this
the mendelson family stole the building’s thirty years ago for 5 cent’s on a dollar and now will keep them and make a fortune from selling them to the city.How cool is that!!
By Jim
March 10, 2007 8:32 AM | Link to this
yeah that stinks , they make a wonderful cobbler too. sure will miss the pies!
By GizmoRich
March 10, 2007 7:06 AM | Link to this
Sandy, I’ve known you since your parents had the business on Linden Ave. at the overpass. They were wonderful folks and neither you or nor your brother fell far from the tree. Mendelson’s was always the place to find hardware and I wouldn’t be surprised if some of that hardware is in my workshop down here in Sunny Florida. I hope to be in Ohio in September for the Gathering of Mustangs & Legends. It would be great to see you and talk about the old days. Good luck in the future!
By Michael S. Kettering
March 9, 2007 11:00 PM | Link to this
Wishing Mr. Mendelson the best in his retirement. Along with recalling the inventory Mendelsons brought to the Hamvention, I will always rememvber the hours I spent with my father checking out this, that or the other, whilst looking for that “one thing” that it seems no one else offers for sale.
For all you’ve done for the community, sir, I extend my appreciation.
By racko
March 9, 2007 10:06 PM | Link to this
Ok, ok. Here’s the deal: MaHaffies on Linden Aveneue and Smithville make and sell the pies!! Mendelson’s sells all the other stuff. Enough said
By Jay
March 9, 2007 5:52 PM | Link to this
It’s a sad day for the downtown community, not only did Sandy and Bruce Mendelson bring baseball to downtown Dayton, they would bring all types of business to the downtown and surrounding areas that otherwise would of been a ghost-town. The contribution that Bruce and Sandy Mendelson brought to Dayton for 30+ years was unprecedented. Bruce was surely missed throughout the community when he left the business, the same will be for Sandy as well. Good luck Sandy and good luck Downtown Dayton!!!
By DLM
March 9, 2007 4:44 PM | Link to this
Mendelsons doesn’t make pies - they sell all kinds of close out items and stuff. Last time I was there they had a lot of tool and hunting and fishing stuff at pretty great prices.
At my old job we used to go to Mendelsons when we had down time - pretty cool weird stuff on the 3rd floor.
Good luck crazy sandy!
By TN
March 9, 2007 3:56 PM | Link to this
They have wonderful pies. I love their peanutbutter pies. Umm Umm!
But at Thanksgiving time, their Pumpkin pies are the best anywhere!
By Ron
March 9, 2007 2:05 PM | Link to this
Why is it that all most of you think of is to get rid of the buildings. That is loft space waiting to happen, and with off street parking.
By John C.
March 9, 2007 12:49 PM | Link to this
I used to work for Radio Shack for over a decade about a decade ago and worked many Hamventions with and against Sandy and the whole Mendelsons team. I saw a bunch of guys go to the other side and kind of knew Sandy but from a distance. He is a good guy. Most of the people complaining here that he did not do much for the city, how much have they done? Whether it was 20 years ago or lately? Half of the reason that the Dragons are even there is because of Sandy. Happy retirement!!
By fed up
March 9, 2007 12:32 PM | Link to this
Sandy Mendelson was not a “good” community person. His buildings downtown were huge Eyesores and he never gave back to the community. Tear those buildings down and make it nice for the Dragons!
Good Redence
By Hope
March 9, 2007 12:16 PM | Link to this
I used to work in the Mendelsons building, for Parts Express and this was when Fifth Third Field was built. That. I really liked Sandy, very down to earth, and knew his business. They do have tons of merchandise to offer to the public no matter what you need, they pretty much have it all! They’re also a big part of Ham Vention. I can’t imagine what they’ll do with the Mendelsons building once everything is out of there. I’ll always remember that rickety elevator we could take for all the floors
By chad
March 9, 2007 12:09 PM | Link to this
Great store.. but a huge eye sore. I hope they tear it down and turn it into a parking lot for the dragons!
By c
March 9, 2007 12:00 PM | Link to this
I don’t know where I will get parts and pieces for my UNIVAC, or where I will find my interocitors. Good Luck!
By brian
March 9, 2007 11:31 AM | Link to this
I probably won’t miss Mendelson’s but I will miss the Parts Express. Their prices are much more resonable than Radio Shack and the carry some items not available anywhere else but the internet.
By Bob
March 9, 2007 11:11 AM | Link to this
I will not miss Mendelson’s, having grown up and worked in the electronics industry locally for 30 + years. Mendelson’s has become a Dinosaur, outdated electronic items, at prices that are always way to high, as far as the “historical buildings that we occupy.” comment Sandy made, sounds like a way to get the buildings put into a very low property tax bracket, or sell them to Dayton just to open up the area so the ballpark is not surrounded by old DELCO buildings, Sandy has hit another homerun !
By william blevins
March 9, 2007 10:43 AM | Link to this
I met Sandy many years ago when he opened a sports store on n, main st ..Also met Pete Rose there for the grand opening ,,I layed carpet in the store and carpeted some cubicles for him..He is a fine man .I have visited his liquadition store on east first st many times and I think the store will be missed once its closed..William Blevins
By Scott R Placke
March 9, 2007 10:28 AM | Link to this
I too used to work at Mendelson’s I will miss walking all those different floors admiring all the different items that they had, and going underground through the tunnel,under First Street to reach the other buildings that Mendelsons occupied.I also enjoyed going down on Saturday mornings just to browze around and look for different items. Good luck to Sandy & Bonnie (Stay in touch)
By kristen
March 9, 2007 9:33 AM | Link to this
I live just up the road from Mendelson’s — how disappointing to hear they are moving! I wish the best for Mr. Mendelson in his retirement.
By janice
March 9, 2007 9:14 AM | Link to this
Is that the place that makes pies???
By Em
March 9, 2007 9:06 AM | Link to this
I still love going to Mendelson’s downtown.
Don’t fool yourselves though, there is no way that building will be developed succesfully. There are similar buildings right up the street that have been sitting vacant for years. It will need massive retrofitting as well as an actual plan for development. Who would want to buy such an outdated building?
By Bob
March 9, 2007 8:55 AM | Link to this
Three cheers to Sandy for wanting to see the buildings preserved by developers. They would make nice condos at some point in time. Enjoyed browsing through the years; now have fun with the grandkids!
By jak
March 9, 2007 8:17 AM | Link to this
Noone down there is going to buy furniture. Switch over the 1st floor to crackpipes. That place would have tons of business then.
By Richard L Dorsten
March 9, 2007 7:57 AM | Link to this
If they do away with all the 3rd floor merchandise, they may as well close altogether. Most of what they sell on first floor is priced to high and I can get it at any retailer and as far as the fixture store, they have really got out of hand on pricing.
By Tony Char
March 9, 2007 7:48 AM | Link to this
Sandy and I go back too many years to count. His investments in Dayton have been a big plus for the City. Hopefully in his retirement he will continue to be involved in trying to keep the city economically and physically viable. Best of luck in your retirement. Enjoy it, especially with your grandchildren.
By dublg
March 9, 2007 6:51 AM | Link to this
I USED TO SPEND HOURS JUST BROWSING AROUND THE 3RD FLOOR. GONNA MISS IT!
By Wendy
March 9, 2007 4:36 AM | Link to this
I used to work for the Mendelson’s a long time ago. Bruce and Sandy were nuts! They were constantly fighting and going crazy at one another. Last I knew Bruce had moved to AZ. Maybe Sandy can be as calm as Bruce