Abe Lekowsky founded American Plumbing Supply Co. in Des Moines in the 1930s after borrowing $150 to purchase plumbing supplies. He passed the family business down to his son Harlan, who still works there and has brought his own son David in to run the company. American Plumbing bucked trends by remaining family-owned for three generations and competing successfully against large retailers. It still operates out of the same red brick building in East Village using manual processes rather than computers, serving customers with extensive plumbing knowledge.

1. A reAl-life DAviD
competing with goliAth
Written by J. Sharpe Smith
photoS by William J. GentSch
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40 Des Moines city Magazine nov Dec 07 jan 08 41

2. nostalgia
t
hings don’t look too good for the little guy these days, he sold a little of everything, from furniture to gas
days. With big-box retailers dominating the do-it- stoves and motors.
yourself world, small businesses have a tough by 1936, he was ready for an away-from-home business
time competing. Family-owned businesses are location and rented a storefront on locust Street for a year,
also on the decline. although 80 percent of businesses start then moved a block away on Grand avenue to rent a space
out family owned, only one out of three is passed down to that was previously occupied by the Swan motorcar
the second generation and but one of every 10 is passed company. he sold furniture as well as plumbing supplies
down to the third generation. until the start of World War ii, when he dropped the
american plumbing Supply co., a Des moines furniture. the company is still selling plumbing supplies
institution for more than 70 years, has bucked both of those today at 504 e. Grand ave.
trends. the family-owned business harks back to an earlier at american plumbing, everything is pretty much done
time when family members worked side by side, and the same as it was when abe forged the business. you
children continued the tradition by taking over the business. won’t have to dodge any forklifts to get to the parts
Founded by abe lekowsky in the 1930s, american ordering desk, maybe just a dolly loaded with wood
plumbing was passed on to his son harlan, who still works heading for the stove in the back. computerization has not
at the company, and who has brought in his son David to found its way into this red brick building in the heart of the
run it. east Village. a trip upstairs reveals shelves and shelves of
it all began during the Great Depression when abe hundreds of catalogs and manuals for ordering parts and
called in a plumber to fix a leaky toilet. the bill came to $5, plumbing products. the inventory is not kept on a database.
which he had to pay over time. the experience left him with there are no barcode scanners. receipts are handwritten.
an epiphany that would shape his life and the lives of the change is still counted back and placed in your hand.
next two generations of his family. he decided checks are printed using the manual “paymaster
people should be able to save money by ribbon Writer.” Sales are rung up on an
fixing their own plumbing. after ornate turn-of-the-century brass cash
borrowing $150, he purchased a register that still provides a sprightly
truck and brought in a load of “ka-ching,” as opposed to today’s
plumbing supplies from chicago, pervasive electronic “bee-boop.”
which he sold out of his back after World War ii, times were
yard in Des moines. in those particularly good for american
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42 Des Moines city Magazine nov Dec 07 jan 08 43

3. nostalgia
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plumbing as the returning veterans caused a housing boom. diversified its product line to include high-end goods, such What is really unique about american plumbing can’t extent of their knowledge.”
houses that needed plumbing. the store buzzed with as toto and Kohler plumbing fixtures and Whirlpool be found on a balance sheet or in one of the cubbyholes in other instances, customers have been directed to
activity with several employees busily cutting and threading bathtubs. containing washers or pipe elbows or faucet handles. Des american plumbing from one the do-it-yourself big-box
pipes at a workbench in the back of the store. there’s not a customers don’t just receive the exact parts they need; moines has grown a lot since the 1930s, but when you cross stores, which didn’t have the part they needed. it is a good
lot of call for custom-threaded metal pipes these days and an explanation on installation is given freely with every part the store’s threshold you can imagine that it is still a small example of how a small business can compete with larger
the machines sit silent, but the “pipes threaded” neon sign sold. When it comes to institutional memory, it’s hard to town. one of the company’s most endearing qualities is its chains through specialization and service. a chain is not
still shines above the room. beat american plumbing. harlan lekowsky’s 60-plus years warm, inviting atmosphere of old friends getting together. going to carry 2,000 to 3,000 varieties of faucet valve
in the 1950s and 1960s, american plumbing fell on in the plumbing business makes him a dependable there is no rush. the air is lively, with questions and stems, some of which have to be specially made at a
hard times when the macVicar Freeway was built and many resource. answers shooting back and forth across the counter while machine shop because suppliers don’t carry them anymore.
homes were torn down and salvaged, causing a glut in lekowsky’s wife helen is not too far behind with a half copper pipe is prepared or a valve stem is replaced, with a it warms the heart to see a tradition maintained over
plumbing parts. it was then that abe decided he needed a century of experience. She grew up in a family grocery few stories and laughter added for good measure. the years and to see a company achieve success by serving
specialty to ensure demand. the answer was valve stems store in Valley Junction, another small business where the When David talks about the store’s customers, he uses the community and sticking to the values of old-fashioned
for faucets. When a faucet begins to leak, the culprit, more customers were also their friends. it was perfect training for words like loyal and third-generation to describe them. customer service. the lekowskys’ business, which has
than likely, is a worn-out valve stem. Due to a lack of her life with harlan. after marrying him at 23 years of age, “people know us. they come to us for advice. We show thrived for more than 70 years, is living proof that a small
standardization, one valve stem doesn’t fit all faucets. in she left her family’s business and began working at them how to do it,” he says. helen adds, “Service is our family-owned business can hold its own against today’s
fact, today, american plumbing has thousands of them — american plumbing with harlan’s parents, abe and rose, specialty.” a customer ribs her, “Does that mean you retail behemoths, using expertise and specialty products, as
each one just a little different from the next but guaranteed his sister, ethylene, and her sons, michael and ivan. install?” laughter ensues. opposed to computerization and size, to maintain its
to fit one of the faucet models out there. but that isn’t the “i had a wonderful mother-in-law and sister-in-law,” says David lekowsky does consulting on how to complete clientele and win new converts. n
amazing part. harlan lekowsky, 82, whose eyes dance helen. “they were a great help as i learned the plumbing the plumbing job, and if the do-it-yourself plumber gets
when a customer brings in a corroded valve stem with a parts business.” stuck, help is a phone call away. there is no 800 number,
dark patina, can find the correct replacement within abe and helen’s son David, 44, was 12 years old when no automated phone attendant and no wait for the next
seconds. he began to mind the store, so he knows a thing or two, as available customer service representative.
“customers will come from across iowa if they really well, when it comes to plumbing. Growing up, he spent if you hang around the establishment on a Saturday
love the faucet and want to keep it,” he says. school vacations and Saturday mornings working at the morning, you are sure to meet some of the store’s loyal
customers won’t find the frills, special lighting and store. customers. mike maxwell, for an example, was recently
point-of-purchase displays so common today at american “the kids my age would have never understood,” picking up supplies to re-plumb the bathroom of his east-
plumbing. What they will find is a reliable source for every David said. “i didn’t play baseball or do a lot of things other side neighbor, Don Spaw.
accessory imaginable — from faucet stems and handles to kids did, but i am glad i was able to spend time with my “With David’s assistance, we are redoing the sink, the
pipes, toilets and bathtubs — to rehabilitate an older home family.” even today, he sees his parents almost daily. after shower, the water supply and the drains,” says maxwell.
or simply maintain a current bathroom. the store offers 11 am, harlan and helen can be found back behind the “We come here for the service. the big-box store
more that retro plumbing supplies, however. it has counter helping David mind the store. employees all seem to be hurried, and i don’t know the
44 Des Moines city Magazine nov Dec 07 jan 08 45