Danny’s Equipment, Holley, NY, closing after nearly 50 years in business

by Tom Rivers

Danny Dill is calling it a career. For nearly 50 years he has sold outdoor power equipment and repaired small engines.

On June 30, he is retiring and closing Danny’s Equipment at 122 West Albion Street in Holley, New York. He started the business when he was 21 in 1977. He has grown the size of the business, and added two full-time employees. His wife Nancy also joined the operation in 1986 as the accountant and office manager.

“Thank you to all of the people who have supported us over the years,” Dill said today at Danny’s. “We have enjoyed it.”

Dill, 67, and his wife are going to retire while they feel very healthy and can travel to see their daughter out west and Dill’s sister in Idaho. They want to enjoy life without the daily demands of running the business.

Dill said sales have steadily grown each year with people seeking snowblowers, lawn mowers, power blowers, chainsaws, log splitters and weed trimmers. Dill manages the sales while Mark Jackman has been the small engine repair mechanic for 25 years. Ian McGraw has worked for Danny’s the past two years. He does some repairs and makes deliveries, helping customers set up the equipment.

Danny’s is a dealer for products made by Stihl, Toro and Ariens.

“Our service and knowledge is what sets us apart,” he said. “It gives us an advantage.”

Danny’s has worked with customers going back two to three generations. They like equipment that he calls “labor savings devices,” especially in winter when it’s much easier to start a snowblower than shovel heavy snow.

The zero-turn lawnmowers have been especially popular in the past 25 years. Customers with big yards can cover a lot of ground in about half the time as a typical riding lawn mower, and the zero-turn mower has much more maneuverability, Dill said.

“People are very busy,” he said. “They want something where they can get the job done faster.”

Dill also has seen a transition to more battery-powered equipment.

He was planning a career as automotive technician. He earned a degree from Alfred State in auto tech, but instead started fixing lawnmowers. His services were in demand right away and Dill never looked back.

“It’s been a very challenging career,” he said. “I’ve always looked forward to it, to coming to work each day.”

This article first appeared in, and is courtesy of, OrleansHub.com.