Palmer opens new mega-store

Business is good despite the poor economy

By TOM KANE

INDIAN ORCHARD, PA — With little fanfare, Rusty Palmer opened his brilliant new mega-store near the intersection of Route 6 and Route 652 outside of Honesdale. The building was under construction for nearly four years.

The store sells a vast array of motorcycles, ATVs, personal water vehicles, snowmobiles, scooters, three-wheel motorcycles, side-by-side motorized short cars, large speed boats, work trailers used by contractors and other recreational vehicles.

Back on February 21, 2004, his original building, which was located a few hundred yards from the current building, burned down, with all its merchandise ruined. Palmer quickly jumped into action and bought the building next door, setting up his business without losing a beat.

At the time, Palmer didn’t lay off any employees, and there was no break in service, despite the fire.

One customer at the new store testified about the service Palmer provides his customers. “I live about an hour from here but I come here because the staff is so helpful and responsive and the price is right,” he said.

The four-level store, including a basement, stretches out between Route 6 and the east bank of the Lackawaxen River. Three levels are above ground and the basement, which is reached in the rear of the store, houses the parts department. The floors are tile and a brilliant red wood dominates the interior, with several wooden stairways leading to the floors above.

The 125,000-square-foot building is one of the largest sellers of recreational vehicles in Northeast Pennsylvania. Palmer was unavailable for an interview. But his daughter, Melissa Peterson, answered questions about the new building and the business.

“We now have 68 employees and plan to hire more if business continues to be good,” Petersen said.

According to Paul Christopher, a salesman, business is picking up after a short down turn that resulted from the poor economy. “Business is very good right now,” he said.

The main showroom, which stretches the entire length of the building, displays long galaxies of glistening recreational vehicles in multiple rows. An enormous ceiling fan swirls at the central ceiling on the main floor opposite the main entrance, creating a minor breeze as it turns.

Palmer will not hold a gala opening until early spring when the café is ready to accept customers. The café, which is a tradition at Palmer’s store, will serve breakfast and lunch every day and may even serve dinner, Petersen said.

Palmer will continue selling the popular mixture of nuts, raisins and other comestibles, called “garage mix,” as well as maintaining a gift store and extensive accessories department.

Palmer started his business in Honesdale in 1968.