Nicholls’ Marine closing its doors
When Blake Nicholls asked a bank manager for a loan to start up a boating business, he was quickly dismissed.
“The bank manager told him, ‘Who would want to buy a boat in Fort Erie,’” said his son Tim Nicholls.
Undaunted, Blake, who had been selling marine products from the front yard of his Fort Erie home, asked his brothers-inlaw for loans of $1,000 each.
That $3,000 investment marked the birth of Nicholls’ Marine, a family-run business for more than six decades. It is the largest supplier of marine accessories in the Niagara region.
Now in its 61st year of operation, owners Tim and Judy Nicholls have decided to it’s time pull up anchor at the shop and retire. Stock is being liquidated and the doors will close Sept. 30.
Nicholls’ Marine opened on Niagara Boulevard in 1956. It offered a variety of marine products including boats as well as — up until the 1970s — products for the snowmobile enthusiast.
Tim essentially grew up around the business.
“Since Grade 10, I’ve never worked less than 40 hours a week here,” he said.
“I remember when I was in Grade 10, I missed 46 days of high school because we were so busy,” he added with a laugh. “My parents were called in to the school.”
The business relocated to a former lumber yard in 1980, also on Niagara Boulevard, looking out over the Niagara River.
“Nicholls’ Marine has been a local institution in Fort Erie for over six decades and has provided quality boats, equipment and service to literally thousands of boaters,” said Fort Erie Mayor Wayne Redekop.
“It doesn’t take much for many of us to recall a favourite story or memory of Nicholls’ Marine.”
The secret to their success, Tim explained, is product selection, competitive prices and, most importantly, customer service. One customer, for example, has purchased 19 boats from him over the years.
“We made him a plaque that said ‘Number One Customer” on it and we gave it to him a few years ago,” he said.