On Biz: New hot tub store opens in Roseburg

Doug Linder has brought the beach to Roseburg.

There's no sand involved, but plenty of water, and it's warm.

A few weeks ago, Linder opened a new business, Beachcomber Hot Tubs of Roseburg at 1614 S.E. Stephens St. That's the former site of Chin's Restaurant, a landmark in south Roseburg for many years.

A few years after the restaurant closed, Linder purchased the building and renovated it. He opened Roseburg Auto Center in the north side of the building a year ago and now is showcasing the Beachcomber line of hot tubs in the south side.

“I've always enjoyed hot tubs and we had the infrastructure here to display them,” said Linder of his reasons for opening such a business.

At its recent grand opening, there were 30 hot tubs on the Beachcomber grounds. There are now 15 on display on the showroom floor.

“We are specific to hot tubs and accessories,” said Linder. “It's not a sidelight for me.

“People from the age 40 and up are definitely into the use of hot tubs for back problems, leg problems,” he added. “Hot tubs help relieve those problems. Hot tubs are a luxury item, but they're also a therapeutic item. For the price of one vacation, you can buy a hot tub and get 365 days of joy a year.”

Linder said his new business will carry only hot tubs from Beachcomber, a 33-year-old, privately owned company.

Quads on the move

In another example of filling out the other side of a building, Avrom and Carole Finkel have opened LOP Sports at 1110 N.E. Main St., Winston.

That puts LOP Sports next door to Three Guys Thrift Shop. Avrom Finkel is a partner in each business. The other two guys involved in the thrift shop are Dan Schultz and Rob Singleton.

The Finkels, who had retired and moved from Roseville, Calif., to Winston five years ago, had been selling quads and scooters out of their home. But the combination of the space becoming available, their home phone ringing at all hours and people wanting to shop for a quad or scooter at all hours led the Finkels to decide to move the business next to the thrift shop.

LOP Sports sells motorized sports vehicles and accessories. There is a mechanic who specializes in small engines on site.

“I think we're doing really good, considering the economy,” said Avrom. “There were a couple slow weeks a couple weeks ago, but last week made up for it. We had concerns (opening at this time), but as far as I'm concerned, we did the right thing.”

Both businesses are open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday. The business phone for each is 679-0999.

Hoofing it over to help

When the family of longtime area rancher Shane Schwendiman needed help, friends and neighbors were quick to respond.

The help was needed after Schwendiman, 64, was diagnosed with cancer and died Oct. 8. His Oakland ranch had 80 mother cows and their calves that needed to be worked and shipped just a few days after his memorial service.

Scott Hendy, a Roseburg-area rancher and veterinarian, rounded up the volunteer labor. In one long morning, 15 people worked the cows through the chute for their annual checkups, separated the calves and shipped them.

“ Scott Hendy called me and said he'd get a group together to help,” Josie Schwendiman, Shane's wife, said. “I didn't argue.

“What can you say,” she added. “I looked out there and some of the finest men in Douglas County were out there. They came to help. It was a humble experience.”

Shane Schwendiman was very active in 4-H and was a member of several ag-related committees.

“Shane was very appreciative of Douglas County and the people he worked with,” said Josie Schwendiman, who is a teacher at Fremont Middle School in Roseburg.

Cream rises to the top

Umpqua Dairy Products Co. of Roseburg was a finalist in the recent judging for Oregon State University's Austin Family Business Program's Excellence in Family Business Awards.

Family businesses are nominated for the award by employees, advisers and owners. Nearly 200 nominations were submitted; more than 100 completed applications were judged. Umpqua Dairy was a finalist in the large category that was for family-owned businesses with 100 or more employees. Umpqua Dairy has a total of almost 300 full- and part-time employees.

James W. Fowler Co. of Dallas was the winning business in the large category.

Winners and finalists will be formally recognized at an evening event Nov. 19 at the Oregon Zoo.

The awards recognize the achievements of family businesses in innovation, entrepreneurship, commitment and community involvement. The Austin Family Business Program, in OSU's College of Business, serves family-owned companies through workshops, seminars and family business management courses.

BIZZ BUZZ

“People in the county are putting more emphasis on supporting the local economy. The last few years have been a humbling experience, we as business owners have had to take a hard look at our attitudes. Oakland businesses have risen to the challenge by working together with cooperative marketing. Businesses are helping businesses!”

Loni Oakes Tabor, owner

Old Town Gardens

Oakland

• On Biz is not an endorsement, only an introduction to businesses in the community. Reporter Craig Reed can be reached at 957-4210 or creed@nrtoday.com.