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Business & Tech

Collins Lumber Yard Houses Eclectic Mix of Businesses

Tenants work together, plan Giant Yard sale for May 7

Moorestown Hardware may be the centerpiece business at the corner of Third and Mill streets, but more than 25 other businesses call the historic Collins Lumber Yard home as well.

The series of buildings date to the late 1800s and were operated as a lumber yard until the early 1970s. Today, they are owned by David and Linda Ramsey, who house David Ramsey Cabinetmakers in one of the buildings. Ramsey has had his business at this location for 30 years, but bought the property about 10 years ago from brothers Ed and Will Holweger.

An eclectic mix of tenants occupy the buildings, acting something like an business incubator. Larger businesses can expand and grow, smaller businesses can downsize if necessary. And everyone pitches in to help one another.

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Moorestown resident Steve Heisler owns Poplar Bindery, specializing in “cutting and miniature folding.” For Heisler, who has been on the property since 1999, there’s a comfortable feel to working at the Yard.

“We are all neighbors, doing neighborly favors for each other,” Heisler says. “It takes the pain out of working.”

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Ramsey and his wife clearly love the structure, working to renovate it while maintaining its historic characteristics. A prime piece of real estate in the middle of town, David acknowledges that he has received many offers to purchase the property.

“But everyone wanted to develop it,” he says. And the Ramseys don’t want to see that happen.

“This property is our 401(k),” David jokes. “We just keep improving it.”

His wife agrees. “There’s always something to do. It’s like owning a house,” Linda says, pointing out doorways that are scheduled to be painted and where new signs are about to be installed.

An artist, Linda also displays her work throughout the property. Several other artists have studios in the buildings as well, including fine artists Neil Hughes and Chris Nissen, photographer Lora Carr, videographer Curt Crane and Garth Davidson, who recently moved his framing gallery from Main Street to the Collins location.

Additional tenants include Cresent Moon Clothing, Been Seen Communications and two flooring companies—Atlas Oak Flooring and RH Booker Flooring. Kent Deasy Landscaping also works from the site.

On Saturday, May 7, the tenants plan to join forces for a second annual Giant Yard Sale. Many of the tenants will have items for sale. David Ramsey promises to offer some antiques and furniture, including a 10-foot-by-21-foot dance floor and leaded glass doors. Cresent Moon will offer great prices on one-of-a-kind clothing, odd lot fabrics and notions. Garth Davidson and Atlas Oak are also planning to participate, along with Moorestown Hardware, which will offer some discontinued items and overstocks.  

The sale will take place in the Moorestown Hardware parking lot from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Hot dogs and soda will also be available.

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