MOSES LAKE - When some businesses were scaling back because of the recession, Moses Lake Steel Supply added Columbia River Steel Supply in East Wenatchee.

Steve Rimple, of Moses Lake Steel Supply, describes the first months of operations as interesting and somewhat difficult due to a later than expected start.

But the business started gaining every day, recalls Rimple, the store's general manager.

Rimple said he is excited to be there and to build relationships with the community.

The new location is across from Pangborn Memorial Airport, servicing Okanogan, Chelan, Leavenworth and Cashmere.

"I really felt it was a great idea," he said

Rimple and his family have a long association with the Wenatchee area.

His late grandfather and the business's founder, Monte Holm, once considered East Wenatchee for his scrap yard.

Holm instead picked Moses Lake, because of the opportunities associated with the Larson Air Force Base.

Rimple recalled a story about Holm visiting Moses Lake before he set up shop here.

Holm ran into a police officer, who asked Holm what he was doing.

He told the policeman about his business plans.

The police officer told Holm he would go broke in six months, which didn't sway Holm.

Rimple's wife, Carmen, is from East Wenatchee, providing another reason that picking the area seemed right. He called the area "near and dear to his heart."

Another reason is the family's association with Ephrata businessman Nick Tommer, who bought Holm's junkyard.

He now has a scrap yard in East Wenatchee.

"We're neighbors there as we are here," Rimple said. "Almost the same distance apart here as we are there."

Rimple recalls a conversation he had with Tommer's son, Chris, when Rimple jokingly commented about adding a second location.

Two days later, he received a phone call from Nick Tommer, who told Rimple to meet him at Perkins.

"He said 'I think you should put in your steel company,'" Rimple said.

Rimple decided to do so and Tommer Construction worked on leveling the area for the new East Wenatchee location.

The building was completed in less than a year by Western Ranch Builders, of East Wenatchee.

Rimple used a free local resource in writing his business plan, with guidance from Allan Peterson, of the Small Business Development Center at Big Bend Community College.

Rimple mentioned the help of banker Dave Dollarhide, of Washington Trust Bank, calling him  "an absolute friend and a big supporter of this expansion."

"We had great people to pull from," Rimple said.

Rimple credits his loyal customers for their support.

"I really hope Columbia River Steel becomes one of those places, where we're unique and people enjoy coming there," he said.

He credits his father, Wayne Rimple, and his grandfather, Holm, for providing a successful business model.

The layout of the new location simple, much like Moses Lake Steel Supply's appearance.

"Most people don't care about what your building looks like," Steve Rimple said. "It's service. Service is everything."

The new location carries most everything offered at Moses Lake Steel Supply and employs seven people, with plans to add two more people.  

Fore more information, visit www.moseslakesteel.com.