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Home / Washington Business - May/June 2006 / Profile: Timber Sold with a Slice of Heaven |
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Profile: Timber Sold with a Slice of Heaven |
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Written On: May/June 2006 |
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Written By: by Daniel Brunell |
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When people come to Leavenworth they see the quaint Bavarian architecture, the scenery, the food, the festive atmosphere, and breathe the clean, high mountain air. These are all the traits that make Leavenworth a little get-away for everyone in the Northwest. What many don't realize is that behind the façade is a real community. One of the pillars of Leavenworth is Ken Marson and his lumber and hardware store, Marson and Marson.
Ken Marson is a continuation of his proud family legacy as the third generation to run the business. The Marson family has always been heavily involved in the revitalization of Leavenworth from a logging ghost town into a tourist destination. They supplied much of the materials for the rebuilding of downtown and took part in the endless studies, meetings and community planning. The fruits of this are found in the current prosperity of Leavenworth.
"Everyone in Leavenworth realized that they were a part of the economic picture. Rebuilding the town was a true community effort," said Ken Marson. "It also created a community that was great to grow up in, to raise a family, and run a business. This town offers so much. Even with how small our town is, we have a very cosmopolitan feel."
The Marson family entered the lumber and hardware business by accident. Just after World War II, Kenneth, Sr. and Marie Marson were importing wood from western Washington for their farm in the upper Wenatchee Valley. Their neighbors also needed cut lumber, so the Marson’s started buying extra wood to sell. Pretty soon they were making more money importing wood than farming and started the business in 1955. Their son, Gordon Marson and his wife Marydell, continued the business. In turn, they handed the business to their son and current owner, Ken Marson, Jr.
Business recently has been great. Over the last few years, Marson and Marson and others related to the housing industry have enjoyed very good years. "With the increase in the area's population, the housing market has been booming here," said Marson. "The growth in the valley here has been astounding."
With the sweet comes the sour, however. The rapid growth has lead to many concerns for Marson and his employees. One such problem is affordable housing. Property values in Leavenworth have doubled in the last five years, and there is no available land near Leavenworth. Most of this growth has come from older people buying a second home or retiring in Leavenworth. This has put the pinch on many in the service sector, forcing them to commute from as far a Wenatchee to work in Leavenworth. "It is a great place to live with a great diversity of population," Marson said. "I hate to see it when the people who work here [are] not being able to live here and enjoy it."
Despite this, things have been very good for Ken Marson and his 90 employees. He has expanded with three other satellite stores in Cle Elem, Chelan and Wenatchee. Even with an industry-wide trend of consolidation and big box stores, Marson and Marson not only survives but thrives. "Things have been good," said Marson. "We should continue to prosper."
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