"Sometimes in business it can be worth the wait, even when that means painful efficiencies and going the extra mile to accommodate customers, time and again. That is the emerging survival story of a pair of Lexington businesses that have steadfastly resisted the flight to the suburbs — or outright closures — that left downtown Lexington a place only now emerging from decades of economic inertia.
It's safe to say that Hurst Office Plus, which was first located in a former car wash building on Limestone Street in 1923, is one of the downtown veterans that haven't succumbed to the suburban pull. The company, which relocated to Short Street in 1949, was founded by Ollie Hurst.
It is now run by his son, Richard, who noted that the store has remained a downtown fixture due to the simple fact the company was conveniently located near a banking center.
"But it's close to everything now," he said. "When you're downtown, you don't feel a great distance from anything."
Hurst has seen his business through many changes over the years, including adding another building for office furniture sales and expanding the parking lot to better accommodate downtown patrons.
Hurst cited the Woolworth's Five and Dime Store and the Phoenix Hotel as two of the many thriving businesses that once lined Main Street.
"But many of those buildings have been torn down — there was a big rush to the suburbs that almost sucked downtown dry at one point," he said.
What kept a businessman rooted in downtown even as others rushed to relocate?
"We figured we were in the middle of town and it was developing all around us," he said. "We also have ample parking we acquired along with the building. We (gradually) increased our outside sales, and we modernized electronic ordering. Our goal has always been to provide competitive pricing, service and quality. I guess we've done something right (over the years) to be able to stay here.
"We've had our ups and downs, but (vice president) Tom Gormley has done a lot of innovative and progressive things to keep us up with the times," he added.
Along with Gormley, Hurst cited his daughter, Hope Hurst Lanham, who manages the accounting department, as another integral part of the operation.
And though things will never go back to being exactly the way they were in the "good old days," Hurst believes a downtown revival is already underway.
"I think things are happening right now," he said, citing the condominium development at Rose and Main across from Hurst's furniture store as a major asset to the area.
A plethora of other projects are underway, including the Beacon Development at Gratz Park, Mark Lofts at Woodland Park, The Nunn Building on Short Street, Center Court at the Avenue of Champions and South Upper, New Past on West Main, Artek on Georgetown and the 500s on Main across from Rupp Arena.
At the beginning of the year, the Lexington Planning Commission adopted the land-use element of a new comprehensive plan that excludes an "urban reserve" concept and the expansion of the Urban Service Area, the region of Fayette County that can be used for major residential or commercial development.
Instead, the commission said it would discuss how it will implement the infill and redevelopment concepts the plan has outlined to take place over the next five years, and would strive to promote the development of Lexington's core as opposed to outward movement.
Though Hurst has heard a lot of talk among Lexington residents in support of locally owned downtown businesses, in the end, he feels most consumers give in to the allure of the competitive pricing and marketing schemes of the big box stores.
"The big companies saturate the market with information that confuses the consumer," said Hurst, who with his father was one of the original ongoing members of the Lexington Chamber of Commerce and was also involved in the formation of the Better Business Bureau.
Hurst named other downtown-based businesses such as Barney Miller's electronic company as another downtown loyalist.
Miller, who was an early leader in radio sales, launched his company in the auto parts field and then transitioned into radio as cars began coming with the accessories he was selling in 1922.
After viewing some of the first televisions at the World's Fair in the early 1940s, Miller decided to add that feature to his business, and with his son, Harry, soon sold the first television in the state of Kentucky.
In the mid-1940s, Harry Miller took over the family business, which marked the first of two transitions from father to son. Since the 1980s, Barney's grandson and namesake, Barney, has headed the company.
"Barney Miller's (owners) were always good citizens of downtown," said Hurst of the home entertainment specialists. "(Harry Miller) was a friend of mine and a great supporter of downtown."
When asked why he had kept his company in its original location, Miller explained, "We've always been partial to downtown from a historic perspective, we own our own building, and we have convenient parking for our customers."
As it has evolved, Barney Miller's has moved from a retail environment to a custom installation environment. The company uses its space primarily as a showroom to allow customers to see the possibilities its various systems have to offer.
"Not too many people in our business have a showroom, but it lets people get a feel for how everything works," said Miller. "We're very design and installation driven."
While most customers are residential, Miller noted Keeneland, the University of Kentucky, and the local government among its longtime clients.
"I also had three customers come in today that said they have bought (our products) from my grandfather, my father, and now me. So I guess we've done a good job over the years to have people keep coming back," he said.
Miller figured the company's quality customer service was one of the main reasons for its repeating customers.
"Mass merchants can't keep up with us in terms of knowledge," said Miller of his 26-person staff.
Though over the years he has looked at moving to another location outside downtown, Miller decided against the risk of having to pay a large overhead fee and going out of business.
And with the prospect of many more downtown dwellers in the near future, Miller felt he made the best decision for his company.
"(The new downtown development) is exciting for us," he said. "We're happy to be a part of downtown and see these things happening. I think (more downtown growth) will add a lot of culture to Lexington for everyone — not just us."