Deb Malewski
Contributing Writer
July 1 marked the end of Harrington’s Lawn and Power Equipment and the start of Harrington’s Outdoor Equipment. The new owner, Jim Sape, is not new to this type of business. He is also the owner of the Outdoor Equipment Company in Ray, Michigan, in Macomb County. At that location they do both landscape maintenance and sell outdoor equipment.
“I learned about the business being available through the dealer network, and wanted to get out and grow my business,” Sape said. “We are so excited to take on this new venture.”
Harrington’s is a long-time family-owned business located in Dimondale, just north of Eaton Rapids. Leonard and Judy Harrington started it in 1993 as a home-based business out of their garage. They eventually outgrew that garage. In 2004 they built the new store at 10895 East Vermontville Highway, just off M99, and were able to expand their line of products.
Harringtons grew to become one of the largest multi-line dealers in the area. Harrington’s sells and services chainsaws, generators, lawn tractors, leaf blowers, power washers, push mowers, snowblowers, trimmers, and zero-turn mowers. Their current product line includes Husqvarna, Ariens, Snow Dog, Grasshopper, Bad Boy Mowers, Gravelly products.
Nothing will change, Sape said, as far as the great service customers have received in the past. All the current staff has been retained, and three new employees will be starting. All this should ensure the same professional service, even faster.
Sape does plan on doing some remodeling of the building, however, to accommodate a full line of hardware, including Milwaukee Tools, which he already carries in his other shop. He is also planning to add some new outdoor equipment to their current line-up, including LS Tractors out of North Carolina, which feature compact, sub-compact, and utility tractors, and Liberty Trailers, which is a line of dump, utility, and flatbed trailers out of Indiana.
“This will add more value to the store and provide even more products for our customers in one location,” Sape said. “We’re willing to bring even more product lines in and are open to suggestions from the public,” he added.
Sape expects to spend two days a week at Harrington’s, or as needed.
Contact them at 517-646-8787 or stop by the store during their business hours; Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sat from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
