by Caitlin Kenney

Justin from Portland, Maine writes:

I am working as a maintenance mgr for a rural development/section 8 subsidized and market apartments. Here in Mid-coast Maine. Currently one of our 'investors' is neglecting one particular apartment complex and the apartments are starting to deteriorate. I visited a reclaimed building materials non-profit to see what they had and If I could get the job done with the materials I found there. Talking to the employees they are hanging by a string to stay afloat and even gone without pay (and still working) for some time. This is a store with great stuff, reclaimed but great stuff and they have great deals. They are seeing a dramatic downturn. It goes to show that when the going gets tough people who didn't have the money to shop at a retail hardware store are not going to a reclaimed hardware store either. bummer.