Island City business features new owners, new products

Published 7:00 am Friday, September 22, 2023

Old Hickory Sheds in Island City, now owned and operated by Melissa and Mike Yeager, advertises its expanded offerings and services on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023.

ISLAND CITY — The ownership of Old Hickory Sheds has recently passed hands from Charles Stewart to his daughter, Melissa Yeager, and her husband, Mike Yeager, of Union.

“I was part of the business, helping my dad for the past four years, and now that he’s moved to Portland, Mike and I own it,” Melissa Yeager said.

The opportunity to buy the business, at 10304 W. First St., Island City, came suddenly, but after some thought, the Yeagers agreed it would be a good fit for them. Mike Yeager is the salesman for the business, and Melissa Yeager handles the marketing and paperwork.

Of course, the Yeagers had some ideas of their own they wanted to implement.

“One thing we did was add new product lines in the last month,” Melissa Yeager said. “In addition to the sheds, we’re also selling metal awnings, like carports, and metal buildings up to warehouse size.”

Mike Yeager said the metal buildings they sell are useful as hay barns and can be built as large as the size of an Amazon warehouse. They also sell carports for cars, trucks and RVs.

The Yeagers said customers had often asked them if they sold these kind of metal awnings and buildings, so when they were approached to see if they would be a Coast to Coast steel building dealer, they agreed.

Consequently, Old Hickory Sheds is expecting delivery of a 12-by-30-foot RV carport to their lot so people can see an example of what they look like. Also on the lot are many styles of wooden sheds.

“The smallest shed we make is an 8-by-8 foot, and we go all the way up to 16-by-40 foot,” Mike Yeager said. “They are built locally in Baker City and brought to our lot.”

The business also sells lofted barns with extra storage up top on the inside, as well as garages and animal shelters — and pretty much anything a customer needs can be made to order.

“It doesn’t cost anything more to get a black, green or red roof on it or to have it painted white, red or the new smoky blue,” Mike Yeager said. “You can say where you want the doors and windows. It’s all custom made the way you want it, and there’s a lifetime warranty on the sheds.”

The steel buildings are also custom ordered and can range in size up to 50 feet wide and 100 feet long. Customers can order the roof from 8 to 23 feet high, to accommodate the height of the vehicle, boat or machinery stored underneath.

“We have special computer programs in color that allow the customers to come in and design their building with us, so they can actually see it,” Mike Yeager said.

Estimates are good for 30 days, and this time of year delivery is about 4 to 6 weeks. If it’s on the lot, it can be delivered between 10 and 14 business days. Deliveries are free up to 30 miles.

“Right now, we have 16 on the lot with up to 50 more at the factory where I can call and get the size a customer wants,” he said.

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