COWING ROBARDS

QWho are all the previous owners of the business and what are the relationships between the owners?

AOwnership had been either a Cowing or Robards until the mid 1960s. It was at that time that Ed Rooney became an owner. Hugh Robards had no children of his own, but Ed became like a son to Hugh. Current ownership is with myself, (Dan Rooney), and my brother, Mike Rooney, and my son, Aaron Rooney, has started to enter the picture.

QAs the current owners, why was it important to you to keep the family business going?

AIt has been such a longstanding and well-known business in the area, keeping it going is important for proof of longevity. Alexandria has really come into its own over the last 50 years where jobs and careers are possible now more so than ever. Cowing Robards may not be the largest in our town but we are able to provide a living for many people. We have a responsibility to our employees and our customers to continue to keep the lights on so we can provide our services.

QHow has the business changed over the years? Any new locations, etc.?

AAdaptability and willingness to change is likely the greatest attribute to Cowing Robards’ success over the years. We started humbly as a hardware store aiming to serve the community needs. That evolved to outdoor sporting goods, home decorating and the garment personalization many know us as today. Within that garment personalization avenue, the expansion of online sales has been a huge change in the past few years. Our customers and community members’ needs have changed and become more digital so we too have updated things to stay with the times. What has really been unique is that our central location at 514 Broadway St. has never changed. There are a few different business locations that fall under the Cowing Robards umbrella, but our physical address has remained the same since 1872. It’s sometimes surreal to think of all that has changed within the walls and yet the walls are still the same.

QWhat impact, do you feel, a generational business has on our community?

A

Our community impact is hard to pinpoint and measure. If I were to fantasize and say it has a great impact, of course that feels tremendous to be a part of something special. I suppose in a way, Cowing Robards acts to show and inspire others that a longstanding family business can be done. With a generational business you make decisions with your family. Sometimes those decisions can hinder a relationship but they can also make families stronger when faced with difficulties. It has been fun to see how each generation sees problems and comes up with solutions in different ways. We may not do it right all the time and that is why it is so hard to really pinpoint the community impact. We are continually thankful to have a community like Alexandria that supports what we do. Our goal has always been to serve the community in the best way we can.

QWhat are the biggest challenges/rewards of owning a generational business?

AIn a word, people. Challenges like not meeting a customer’s needs, not meeting a deadline, trying to solve employee issues, even supply chain shortcomings that have a downstream effect on projects. Everything comes back to the people who are involved. On the flip side, when we fulfill an order for a 100th birthday on short notice, or complete an online order for a swimming team in Georgia, or simply get everything done for the Christmas holiday, it all comes back to the people involved. The people are the best part of what we do. We would not be here without the incredible staff and people behind the scenes. From the order takers to the order makers, the hockey moms and business owners, we are thankful for the people who keep this place running.

GOODS & SERVICES

Juettner Motors is an Alexandria dealership that sells new and pre-owned vehicles under the brands of Ford, Lincoln, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram.