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San Antonio Fixture Fastens Its Shutters

Tribune photo by FRED BELLET

An employee of San Antonio Building Supply closes the gate to the business's lumberyard Thursday afternoon

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By LAURA KINSLER

lkinsler@tampatrib.com

Published: January 9, 2009

SAN ANTONIO - When Phil Veith built his house in 1966, all the materials came from San Antonio Building Supply. So when it was time to remodel last year, there was no question he would go back to the local supplier.

"As far as I was concerned, they had top-grade materials," Veith said.

The 85-year-old business announced it would close on Jan. 2 and has been selling off its merchandise at rock-bottom prices. The closeout sale brought first-time customers, like Chuck Caro of Zephyrhills.

Curt and Carolyn Boyett, who shopped there for 20 years, also picked up a few items.

"It's sad," Carolyn Boyett said. "I hate to see it close. It's a good little store."

The company was the picture of stability for four generations until 2001, when the founding family, the Schraders, sold it to Leeds Building Products. It changed hands again when Leeds was acquired by Hope Lumber & Supply Co. (now Pro-Build) in 2005. The Tulsa, Okla.-based company sold the store to its current owners, Harvey Glasgow and Stan Phillips. They changed the name to San Antonio Building Supply.

"I think they're going to reopen," Veith said. "The Schraders will buy it back."

Cheralyn Gupta, owner of San Ann Market, said the closing will create a void in the town.

"It's a part of the village that's disappearing," she lamented. "It's such a shame. They were very pleasant people."

The store had more than a dozen employees, according to its Web site.

Reporter Laura Kinsler can be reached at (813) 779-4617.

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