Shuee’s making adjustments and giving back during health crisis

Thursday, April 2, 2020
Even with the state Stay at Home order and many businesses closing or cutting back, the sight of the Shuee’s delivery truck remains common in front of the 24 N. Jackson St. store in Greencastle, with residents continuing to purchase appliances.
Banner Graphic/Jared Jernagan

This is another in a series of articles on how local businesses are currently coping with the coronavirus and its related issues.

For the average locally-owned retail store, the closure of non-essential businesses for the COVID-19 pandemic hasn’t been easy.

The story is a little bit different for those in the appliance business, such as downtown Greencastle staple Shuee’s Great Buys Plus.

A sign in front of Shuee’s Great Buys Plus displays a commitment to the local community and commerce.
Banner Graphic/Jared Jernagan

“Because of our food preservation and food preparation and laundry systems, we’re deemed an essential service,” owner Bill Shuee said.

The community has also seen Shuee’s as essential as well, keeping the 24 N. Jackson St. store busy with these high-demand items, particularly as people stocked up to be on lockdown in their homes for weeks.

“Business has been fairly strong. There are little dips and you never know when those are going to happen,” Shuee said. “Business itself has been pretty steady.”

Of course, with the ever-changing coronavirus situation, it’s not entirely business as usual.

One major change has been all the extra cleaning that goes along with COVID-19 concerns. Shoppers can still examine the appliances they are considering buying, but an employee will quickly be around to disinfect the items afterward.

The store has also shortened its hours and is now open from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m.-noon on Saturday.

“It’s really just an hour a day different during the week and then three hours less on Saturday,” Shuee said, adding that they believe it can still minimize their employees’ possible exposure.

“Our employees have done an awesome job of getting through this with us,” he said.

The virus has also changed the delivery portion of Shuee’s business.

“We have adopted more of a free drop-off service,” Shuee said. “We’re trying to stay away from being in people’s homes. We’ll get a new appliance into a nearby garage, for example, so that they can then get it into their homes.”

However, in working with local builders outfitting new homes, the story is a little different.

“We’re on a busy timetable of builders finishing new projects,” Shuee said. “Nobody’s been into the homes, so we can deliver into those homes. If there’s nobody home and nobody has been in those homes, we feel like it’s safe.”

The business is also finding a way to meet the needs of health care workers facing a shortage of masks.

“We have a lady, Becky Moore, who’s been with us a long time and runs our parts and services department, she’s always wanting to give back,” Shuee said. “So she’s taken it upon herself to make some masks. We got her some material and she’s been working on those. We’re going to find a place to donate that.”

The donation will be made in memory of the late Bob Shuee, father of current co-owners Brent and Bill Shuee, whose own health issues forced his early retirement.

“He passed away 11 years ago March 31,” Shuee said. “My dad lived for 22 years with one lung. He had lung cancer at age 47, had a whole lung removed and retired. That’s when my brother and I took over the business.”

The community support is the kind of legacy that Bill and Brent Shuee hope they are carrying on.

“We’ll be around for the folks that count on us,” Bill Shuee said.

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  • Not only an awesome business, but an amazing family. I remember Bill and Brent's parents. They were like Grandparents to everyone there. I loved it when they would come up from Niceville, FL. Bob was always full of laughs and made you smile. He was so proud, as he should have been. The Shuee Family took a chance on me when I was 15 to help get me started in life, as they did many youngsters. Growing up, there were two cool places to work, in my eyes. One was the Greencastle Wash & Fill and the other was Shuee and Son's. I'll always have vivid memories of that place. Now, to see Zach putting his heart and soul into the family business makes me proud. -Blowgun Bill Ha Ha Ha..Bill & Jeff know.

    -- Posted by Hmmmmm on Fri, Apr 3, 2020, at 8:08 AM
  • I’m hearing at least one nursing facility cannot wear the cloth masks anymore. Not sure why, but our community has been hard at work making masks. Great effort!

    -- Posted by kbmom on Fri, Apr 3, 2020, at 2:09 PM
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