Oxford Hills businesses - It’s a rough ride

Photo: Jackie Rybeck

PIKES – Art Gouin is the owner of LF Pike & Sons in Norway. His daughter, Lesley Dean and great-granddaughter Brynn run the store.

OXFORD HILLS — Many businesses are going through some pretty rough times; and it doesn’t seem likely that things will be improving any time soon.

The Oxford Hills area is no exception ... especially with the unemployment rate among the highest in the state.

What makes some businesses close while others continue to thrive?

LF Pike & Son Clothing has been a fixture in downtown Norway for more than 100 years and is now owned by Art Gouin who bought it in the 1980s.

Gouin has never seen such tough times as these.

“Of course, like any business, it’s tough when you first open,” he said. “It takes a while to know what the customer wants and what inventory to buy, but the last few years have been the worst I’ve ever seen as far as tough years go. I’ll be honest, it’s been a pretty rough ride.”

Times have not always been this brutal for Pikes.

"Opening in the '80s was good timing,” he said. “It was pretty prosperous for everyone. We were able to pay the bills and even set a little bit aside. This business overall is hard, because we order at least a season ahead; sometimes a year ahead.”

Gouin feels that quality goods and loyal customers have helped to keep Pike afloat.

“We sell something that is needed; traditional, basic clothing,” he said. “It’s primarily quality work clothes at an affordable price; Dickies workwear, Carhartt clothing and Johnson Woolens of Vermont. Men don’t want disposable work clothing, they want something that is going to last and we provide that.”

Gouin’s daughter, Lesley Dean, who has been running the store since 1993, agrees.

“It's all in the quality,” she added. “We stay as much as we can with American-made products and most of our customers are hard-working men that want clothes that will last. They don’t want to run to a box store every three-to-four washings to replace a shirt,” she added.

Pike’s also carries long johns, socks, suspenders and offer tailoring on all their items as well as military uniforms.

Another service they provide is offering larger-men items.

“It’s tough when you are a big guy and you have to order clothes online or through catalogs,” said Dean. “Most pants run up to a 44; we have up to a 60 waist. Shirts are hard to find larger than 2X and we carry 3-6X as well.”

“We even have some women’s clothing now,” added Gouin. “That’s helped our customers since the ladies' shops in the area closed down.”

Speaking of the ladies, there is one other benefit to shopping at Pikes ... you get to meet Gouin’s little princess, Brynn.

“That’s my great-granddaughter and she comes in now and then,” Gouin glowed. “She pretty much runs the store and the rest of the family; at least me anyway!”

So how does Pike’s survive?

“Quality goods and loyal customers,” said Gouin. “The mortgage is paid and I watch over the business well ... but it's a rough ride right now.”

“It's also been my saving grace to have Lesley here.”

Will Pike’s continue to thrive?

“I’m not sure we are doing everything possible; you never know what tomorrow will bring” said Gouin. “But we are certainly learning from these tough times.”

Dean agrees.

“Some weeks are better than others,” she said. “Heating this place isn’t cheap in the winter.”

“And late winter is always an arid time for this business anyway. But I can only hope that this business is still around for little Brynn to run.”