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James Baxter, who for 19 years was a familiar face at Andre”™s Hardware in Bronxville and who was featured on the Business Journal cover two weeks ago in his capacity as the store”™s senior salesman, was let go last week.
His last day was Feb. 28.
He cited a corporate shuffle as the reason, with a manager from another Indiana-based Do It Yourself outlet ”“ Andre”™s is a Do It Yourself store ”“ filling his slot. He said he was making $12 per hour, but was told, “”˜We can”™t afford to keep you.”™ I”™ve leaned to accept it, but I take the new hiring with a grain of salt.”
Baxter is looking to expand the contracting work he has been doing outside Andre”™s. Ten years ago, he and his uncle William Hale took the plans for the 1893 Victorian at 909 Palmer Road in Yonkers ”“ the Baxter family home ”“ and translated them into a modern version on Long Island”™s North Fork. Among the upgrades: The house is half off the energy grid owing to geothermal heating and cooling. Baxter is familiar with building codes both on Long Island and in Westchester and is insured.
“I do all types of home repair,” he said. “Make up a punch list and I”™ll tell you what”™s in my skill set and when I”™ll have to use outside sources.” In those cases, Baxter tries to keep the work in the family, or at least near to it: his uncle from Long Island; his girlfriend”™s uncle, a mason; and his sister”™s boyfriend with whom he has established D&J Improvements (384-5824).
“I try to keep it all in the family so we can all eat and have a life,” he said. “I bring a good heart to the table. And I bring a strong skill set to the table. As I”™ve said before, I know my world.”
Andre”™s owner Michael Okun had no comment.
