Supply business celebrates 60 years in business

NEWTON — You can’t Twitter Sussex County Heating and Plumbing Supply and you can’t find them on Facebook. In fact, the business doesn’t have a web site. “We do it the old fashioned way,” said manager Don Wagenhals, “By word of mouth and by providing excellent customer service. Sussex County Heating and Plumbing Supply just turned 60 years old. It was started in 1949 by James Mitchell, Paul Francke an Isodor Fierstein, and has always been located at 36 East Clinton Street in Newton. The business focuses on both retail and wholesale and serves numerous contractors. In 1970, James Mitchell’s son, Gary Mitchell, took over as the president of the corporation. “The business started as a small plumbing supply connected to several vendors and contractors and just kept expanding over the years to work with quite a few plumbing contractors,” Wagenhals said. “We’re the only plumbing supply in Newton and have a full line.” When first Home Depot, and then Lowes, came to town business was affected, but Wagenhals said only slightly. “We have our own niche and work well with the contractors.“ He said, “We carry the specialized fittings that people need and they don’t have.” He added, “When it comes down to it, customer service and personal service are our thing and that speaks volumes to customers and contractors.” Sussex County Plumbing and Heating offers everything from bathrooms to kitchens to heating. “We have everything from bolts to nuts to start a house... to every phase of plumbing and heating.” Wagenhals said about the 60th anniversary, “It’s a true celebration of our customers.” They had a customer appreciation day with food and giveaways recently. “Our customers are great.” The way they’re going, Sussex County Heating and Plumbing Supply is set to be thriving for another 60 years.”