Lights out at Sandham Electric after 107 years in business
Downtown St. Catharines store closing its doors for good Friday
After 107 years in business in downtown St. Catharines, Sandham Electric Ltd. will be closing up shop for the final time this Friday.
Otto Werner, who has owned the business for the past six decades, is ready to retire. In April, he went public with his plans, putting out the call to find a new owner for the small appliance repair business on St. Paul Street.
“There were a few tire kickers who reached out, but no serious offers,” he said, adding it’s not something suited for everyone.
Over the past month or so, Werner has been clearing out the repair shop getting rid of tools and supplies he’ll no longer need and the spare parts he had been holding on to “just in case.”
“You never know when you’re going to need something again, so I’d keep it. Eventually, those little parts add up to a lot.”
Werner bought the business off Jack Sandham, who retired in 1967. At that time, it was also a lighting store. Over the years, the lighting aspect fell away, and Werner moved it from its original location at 353 St. Paul St. to 27 James St., before setting up in its final location at 337 St. Paul.
Once word got out that he was planning on retiring, Werner said he was overwhelmed by well wishes from his customers and the community at large. People were calling and popping by to thank him and say goodbye.
Now, it’s Werner who wants to express his gratitude and say thank you to the community that kept him in business for more than 60 years.
“I couldn’t have done it without the customers. They’ve been great,” he said, adding he’s enjoyed his work and being able to help people repair items
that mean a lot to them or they just can’t bear to part with.
He stopped taking repair requests last Friday and will spend the week cleaning up the shop before turning over the keys to his landlord. On Friday, he’ll lock up one final time.
Being retired will be an adjustment, he said.
“It’ll be hard to get used to — getting up in the morning and not having to come here and open the shop,” he said.
Werner plans on spending more time with his family and getting back onto the tennis court, something he’s done less in recent years.
And although he’s leaving his shop days behind him, Werner’s not ready to throw in the towel on repairing things quite yet. He’ll be working one day a week doing small-item repairs out of the Home Hardware in Grantham Plaza on Scott Street.
“Mostly just small things like lamps and light fixtures … clippers and flatirons,” he said. “Something to keep me busy, but not too busy — my wife wouldn’t like that.”