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Local News

Tuesday, March 02, 2010

Wilson's not closing, co-owner maintains
Hancock County Health Dept.
By LOU WILIN

STAFF WRITER

Despite the hullabaloo two months ago, there are no plans to close Wilson's Sandwich Shop, co-owner Pat Baker said Monday.

Manager Mike Fenbert overreacted last December when he said the restaurant was “about to shut down,” Baker said.

Fenbert did not return phone calls from The Courier in recent weeks.

Baker said she and the other two co-owners, Maxie Curtis and Wilbur Fenbert, have not all three met to discuss Mike Fenbert's comments.

However, Baker, who has 28 percent ownership, said she and Curtis, who owns 32 percent, have discussed Wilson's future.

“We don't want to close (Wilson's). We are going to work to keep it open,” Baker said. “It would be a shame to see it go after all these years.”

Both Curtis and Wilbur Fenbert are in nursing homes. Baker said she went to talk to Wilbur Fenbert, who owns 40 percent of the company.

“He does not seem to want to discuss it,” she said.

Fenbert's son, Mike, two months ago said Wilson's had serious problems like declining sales and years of net losses.

On Monday, Baker said things are getting better for Wilson's as the weather improves.

“It's like every other business, you know, you go through this ... we do this almost every year and then as the weather picks up, we pick up,” she said. “So this has been something we have gone through every year.”

Wilson's in December was fined $2,100 by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. The agency said employees were exposed to potential finger and hand pinches, electrical shock or electrocution involving a hamburger patty molding machine.

Baker said Wilson's has replaced the patty machine, and has it operated by two qualified employees.

Wilson's has paid its $2,100 fine but still must show the safety and health administration it has corrected the safety concerns, said Jule Hovi, area director for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Toledo.

Wilson's was opened in 1936 by H.F. Wilson of Lima. In the 1960s, ownership was purchased from the Wilson family by three employees: Wilbur Fenbert, Harold “Lance” Baker and Woodie Curtis, Mike Fenbert has said.

Baker and Curtis have died, and their spouses now hold ownership interest, along with Wilbur Fenbert.

For decades, Wilson's has been a favorite hangout of adults and elected officials.

It gained a reputation as the place to catch up on Findlay's scuttlebutt and to get a feel of the community's pulse. Courier reporters for decades have gone there for man-on-the-street perspectives for the news stories of the day.

It also has been a stop for dignitaries and celebrities visiting Findlay, like Vice President Joe Biden on the campaign trail last year; U.S. Sen. George Voinovich, R-Ohio; former Vice President Dan Quayle; singer Johnny Mathis and others.

Wilin: 419-427-8413, Send an e-mail to Lou Wilin


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29 Comments (3 pages)

Latest comments listed first.
Kyle wrote:
Free Enterprise
“ What's the beautiful thing about a free enterprise system? You can run your business how they want. Whether you like or don't like how rude they are at Wilson, as many people have said, that's how it's always been. If you don't like it, don't go. If you do, then go. It's not necessary to tell them how they are dying a slow death because or their decisions. It's theirs to make. Unless you truly think a comment on the courier online will change their attitudes. If that's the case, then keep it up. No one's going to argue that they are rude at Wilson. No one's going to argue that they (generally) aren't at any chain fast food restaurant. Just pick one and go and stop trying to convince everyone that they need to agree with you. If Findlay is particularly good at anything, it's NOT being able to be persuaded from what one has believed for years. ”
Wednesday, March 03, 2010 9:09:32 AM
Joe Tiller wrote:
Youtube Video about Wilson's
“ I found this "mini documentary" about Wilson's on Youtube. Here is the link...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=grOk7KHzcpU ”
Wednesday, March 03, 2010 5:12:38 AM
tim hunter wrote:
wilsons
“ Looks like mismanagement to me if"better weather"is vital to improving sales.We were in town around July 1st last summer only to find the place closed for the week. ”
Tuesday, March 02, 2010 8:21:49 PM
LC-72 wrote:
Wilsons
“ Wilsons: Still the best hamburger in town. ”
Tuesday, March 02, 2010 8:20:16 PM
sheryl wrote:
wilsons closing
“ ugh...by far not the heart of Findlay!! ”
Tuesday, March 02, 2010 7:07:02 PM
Slim wrote:
Dysfunction continues
“ Wilsons will die a slow and painful death due to aging ownership and poor management. It appears that the current owners are afraid to confront the management or are in denial and have accepted the situation.

On Monday, Baker said things are getting better for Wilson's as the weather improves. It's like every other business, you know, you go through this ... we do this almost every year and then as the weather picks up, we pick up, she said. So this has been something we have gone through every year.

I will not return until this establishment is under new management. What a sad story.
 ”
Tuesday, March 02, 2010 5:41:41 PM
Lance Butte wrote:
Wilsons Hamburgs
“ For fifty years Wilsons employees have been rude.That IS Wilsons! Leave it alone! Like I said. "FIFTY YEARS"! ”
Tuesday, March 02, 2010 5:29:59 PM
J wrote:
Never again
“ I was trying to support Wilson's until my fiance and I went there to get some food the other day. The middle aged guy who is always rude decided to toss the food through the window and into the car while I wasn't looking because I was getting change out of my pocket. Sorry I didn't have exact change for ya bud! NEVER will I go there again, I tried to do my best to look past the crappy attitudes to support them. Plus the food has slipped anyways, not nearly as good as it use to be. Management, keep pushing people away by employing rude people with no personality. ”
Tuesday, March 02, 2010 4:21:48 PM
Scott wrote:
Kewpee and Wendys is better than Wilsons
“ The idea for Wendy's "old fashioned" hamburgers was actually inspired by Dave Thomas's trips to Kewpee Hamburgers in his home town of Kalamazoo, Michigan. The Kewpee sold square hamburgers and thick malt shakes, much like the well-known restaurant that Thomas eventually founded in Columbus, Ohio, in 1969. ”
Tuesday, March 02, 2010 4:16:41 PM
Becky wrote:
How about a Thank you
“ My biggest complaint about Wilson's is their rudeness. I patronize them and I have NEVER gotten a Thank you or a smile. Maybe if they had better customer service they would attract more customers. You can run a business and still thank your customers. ”
Tuesday, March 02, 2010 3:02:34 PM
   NEWS VIDEO

Benton Ridge Shooting

This video, released by the Hancock County Prosecutor's Office, shows the shooting of a Lima man who led authorities on a three-county chase ending Aug.24 in Benton Ridge. Be cautioned, the video contains graphic content.
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News Briefs Firefighters discover 20 marijuana plants in house
After fighting a house fire early Monday at 815 Howard St., firefighters found 20 marijuana plants in the residence.

"They ran across it and called us," said police Sgt. Justin Hendren with the Hancock County METRICH Drug Enforcement Unit.

Police seized all 20 plants, and Hendren said charges are pending.

High-powered growing lights, fans, and a box filled with dried marijuana were also found in the house, according to a police report.

Investigators said an electrical short started the fire before 3 a.m. Monday.

The blaze caused an estimated $12,000 in damage to the residence, owned by Amanda Crawford. No one was injured, according to the Findlay Fire Department.

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CAREY -- Carey offices, including administrative, income tax and utilities, electric, wastewater treatment plant, and public works, will be closed Monday in observance of Labor Day.

The curbside recycling program will be held Tuesday through Thursday, Sept. 7-9.

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Fletcher began his patrol career in 2002 after graduating from the 139th Academy class and has been assigned to the Findlay post since.

Owens announces holiday schedule
The Toledo and Findlay campuses of Owens Community College will be closed Saturday through Monday for the Labor Day holiday.

There will be no classes and the college offices will be closed.

Classes will resume and offices will open again on Tuesday.

Holiday changes ad deadlines
The Courier won't be published on Monday, in observance of the Labor Day holiday.

Because of the holiday, some advertising deadlines have been moved up this week:

Black and white display advertising for Tuesday's newspaper must be placed by noon Friday. Display advertising for Wednesday's newspaper must be placed by 2:30 p.m. Friday.

Color display advertising for the Thursday, Sept. 9 newspaper must be placed by Friday.

Classified advertising and City and Country advertising for Saturday's newspaper must be placed by 2 p.m. Friday. Classified ads for Tuesday's newspaper must be placed by 2:30 p.m. Friday.

Courier business and advertising offices will close at 3 p.m. Friday for the holiday.