MASON CITY – A business that has called downtown Mason City home for decades will soon be no more.
Marshall & Swift, in business since 1912, confirmed today that a “third party” is negotiating to take control of the business. The fate of dozens of employees was not known.
A person who answered the phone at Marshall & Swift said that the business could be closed by April as negotiations are on-going.
According to its website, Marshall & Swift offers “hometown service to meet your needs today and for the next 100 years.”
Several customers of the business expressed dismay at the news, saying “Where will I do my dry cleaning?”
Another Mason City man noted that this is just the latest announcement by a Mason City business that is it time to close up.
“Holcim Cement, K-mart, Marshall and Swift, the list continues and will continue, he said.”
Another man noted: “Look at all the empty storefronts in town. The mall is a goner. Used car lots on every corner. What has the mayor and city council done to us?”
Mason City missed the boat years ago. Back in the 80’s we had a Councilman call out the local Chamber of Commerce about their Selective Business Growth Policies. The Chamber and local big wigs all denied it but history pre 80s and since has proven the charge to be true. Mason City is a shrinking city with a poor outlook towards the future.
We just can’t get control of our City Government to changes things for the better.
Zero thinkers in charge and the Globe Gazette helps keep it all under wraps.
Bummer.
I do hope that someone is gearing up to take over their territory. I used to work as a mechanic and our shop relied on M&S to deliver cleaned uniforms each week, make repairs, etc.
Considering all of the uniforms around town that they were managing, the area is going to miss them.
Congratulations for their long run!
A real sign of the demise of a city is the number of pawn shops and instant cash joints. The number is growing.
Don’t forget the sleazy used car lots on every corner. Third world town. Bookmeyersville, USA!
What a damn shame. Another long time downtown business gone with all of it’s employees. Can’t expect Philly to understand any of this as he doesn’t now and never has worked. All that is left is pawn shops, bars and dentist downtown. The mall is almost dead and there are so many empty stores I quit counting. Good job Mr. Mayor and council. If your goal was to destroy our town you are right on track.
Yep. Because the Mayor is responsible for wash and wear fabrics and paper napkins….
LVS, you’ll never understand the concept of local artisan craftsmen because you never were one…you were an assembly line guy. Marshall & Swift were local and they had a good run for 102 years. Perhaps the owners just wanted to get out of the business. Who knows the reason they want to sell or pull the plug? Certainly not you keemo-slobby.
@Philly-who the hell are you to talk about work at all. You are just a leach on society and must be a terrible embarrassment to your poor mother. For the record dip shit, a manufacturing engineer is not a assembly line worker. What a first class idiot you are. And, you don’t live here doper so you don’t get a vote. The Harleys are coming soon.
Does LVS stand for Las Vegas Stocks? A little birdy told me. I think you’re identity is known.
Nope, you are wrong again. But, you should be used to it.
LVS, you probably don’t have very many years left on this earth. It’s telling that you’d spend them being a nasty bitter old man. You’re life must have really sucked. As far as those Harley’s…why are you taking pride in something embarrassing to the city? They are breaking the law. It’s nothing to be proud of. Just because culturally a bunch of rednecks are having their last hurrah, doesn’t mean it’s going to be around for too much longer. Bush had his last hurrah starting a bunch of wars in the middle east…the loud Harleys are on their way out just like the Republican Party.
@Philly-I will probably out live you by a bunch. Especially if you are stupid enough to walk out in front of one of those Harleys. At the very least what is left of my life will be 100 times more productive than your whole life. And, I will pay a hell of a lot more taxes than you ever will.
Peter, this is the first time I’ve said this to you but you are a hypocrite. You talk about the Harleys that are breaking the law yet you condone smoking pot even though it is illegal.
Maybe, why do I get the feeling you and LVS are like that 2 headed alien thing on MIB 2?
If you get a feeling that there is someone looking over your left shoulder, that’s me, but if it’s your right shoulder it’s LVS.
@Buzz-well at least we don’t have to worry about Peter buying the building. They don’t give credit to dopers with no source of income.
Peter, you are not an industrial manufacturer. Because you make a guitar at home that is like so many other guitar makers you think you are a businessman. I’ve seen your guitars and I’m not impressed.
To much pot on the brain, boy. You destroyed your credibility long ago.
First of all, I don’t give a shit what you or anyone else thinks. My struggle to overcome some nasty circumstances is for me to know and you to STFU. My guitar making is a work in progress. I’m completely self taught, and I am still developing my processes. This ain’t no NIACC kit building guitar BOY…I make the necks, fingerboards and put in the frets…so again STFU. Also, I’ve had to deal with Mason City Scumbags who F’ed up my Warehouse operation…a place that I STARTED. So if you-have seen one of my guitars (which btw were early versions while I was teaching myself how to build them) you are probably associated with that warehouse and therefore you can again STFU…you F’in loser. You attack my efforts to start a business and teach myself a trade? Yeah you better stay anonymous punk…because you just figured out how to get my bloodpressure going. Better stay clear. 200 pounds of pissed off coming at you…ain’t gonna feel too good. PUNK.
And I’ll take on any one of you punks…anytime. Y’all know where I live. I’m in the book. Go ahead and ring the bell.
Geez peter, you get any hotter and you’ll melt the snow. Blowing off like that just lets them know what buttons to push next time. I usually just let it roll off my back like yesterdays toilet paper.
@Philosophus We would all be very impressed and terrified if you actually followed through with the majority of things you said you were going to do. Good luck being an “industrial businessman” or a “Manufacturing Company” or whatever it takes to get you to go to sleep at night under your mothers roof. Do more, say less.
What am I…your savior? I’m trying to deal with the terrible circumstances in North Iowa, as are so many others. The difference is I’m refusing to go work for someone I don’t know, and don’t care about. You punks can say all you want…I don’t give a shit. You think it’s a virtue to go work at Wal Mart? NO…it’s a virtue to figure out how NOT to work at Wal Mart. This is class war, that has been waged against us by those who fancy themselves THE BOSS. As far as I’m concerned people can go out drugging and stealing all they want because this corrupt bullshit system is so fraudulent and hypocritical on so many levels it doesn’t need to be adhered to. This is war baby….and Anarchy too. So FU.
@ LVS… Rumor has it that an “out-of-town” (or out to lunch) person was interested in purchasing the building to start a Buddhist, guitar manufacturing business. More later, as information becomes available.
Adapt. That’s all this is. We must learn to adapt.
Anyone know how many they employ?
A friend of ours husband works there. I believe she said 49 people.