Boomtimes in Auburn

Logan County town enjoying business growth, including sweet shop, lumber venture, cabinet shop

Tuesday, September 14, 2004

Three new businesses Auburn are waiting for your visit.

In less than two weeks, chocolate lovers can head downtown to 107 Public Square, where theyll find the Down South Delights.

Inside, co-owners Rita Rowland and Melanie McKee-Norris of Bowling Green will be selling their handmade truffles and high-end chocolates.

The two are already known in the area for the catering business, Down South Delights, they have operated out of Bowling Green for about a year.

The expansion to Auburn comes as theyre looking to increase their sweets business, for both local customers and online, Rowland said.

Ive grown out of my space in Bowling Green, she said.

With the hopes of finding a national market for their candies, they attended a trade show in Chicago and made numerous contacts, Rowland said. Future customers could include stores such as Macys and Cracker Barrel.

The plan for the business has been coming together for four years, she said.

Ive been consulting with several people in France, Rowland said. Theyve given me guidance.

Menu items from their catering business include raspberry chicken, various hors doeuvres, homemade cakes, garlic mashed potatoes and Oriental snow peas.

Everythings homemade from scratch, she said.

Shoppers in the store and on the Internet can soon order from their variety of chocolates and truffles, including a specially made chocolate filled with Hennessy Cognac and another thats filled with champagne. In about a month, their site, www.downwouthdelights.com, will be up and ready for business.

Over at 242 Sugar Maple Lane, Davenport Custom Cabinets could be open by the end of the month.

Buford Davenports been in the cabinet business almost all his life, and in 1970 became a partner in Chapel Cabinets. In 1995, his brother bought him out.

Me and my sons decided we wanted to go out on our own, we bought some land and started to build a shop, Davenport said.

The 10,000-square-foot shop will employ up to 15 people. Davenports sons, Brad, Jason and Aaron, will also work there. Theyll build a variety of cabinets, including kitchen cabinets, vanities and book cases.

Its just something Ive grown up with I enjoy doing it, Davenport said. Ive always done it, my dad was always a carpenter, my sons they just grew up doing it. Its just part of our lives.

People in Logan all of them are good people. I grew up here and I think all the people in Logan are nice, and I want to thank them for the years supporting Chapel and maybe us in the future.

David Yoder, who opened Auburn Lumber on July 1, says Davenport buys some of his lumber from him.

Ive known him for years, Yoder said.

The new business, located just off U.S. 68-Ky. 80 on 2550 Echo Valley Road, is expanding. Its in a 13,000-square-feet bulding, and another 10,000-square-feet building will be built by December.

Yoders products include lumber, plywood, metal, paint, cinder block, hardware, door knobs, brooms and other tools.

He moved to the area about 30 years ago and has been a carpenter ever since. Yoder previously ran the Stark Truss company, but sold it.

Im not old enough to retire, so I started a lumber company its full scale, he said.

And business has started out well.

I have some real good people working for me, Yoder said. Were going to work on honesty, integrity and good prices.

He employs 10.

Most of his customers are larger contractors, but individuals come in to purchase nails and treated lumber for decks.

And hes prepared to add another business in Auburn.

I have about five more acres. Im going to develop it in the future, Yoder said. Im open to suggestions from anybody.

 Daily News ·813 College St. ·PO Box 90012 ·Bowling Green, KY ·42102 ·270-781-1700