Multigenerational Companies Grow, Prosper in Harlingen
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The family that plays together, stays together … and in Harlingen, the same goes for the family that works together, too.
Multigenerational family-owned businesses are pretty commonplace around here. Whether it’s beauty supplies, a new sign, packing machinery or a nice piece of jewelry, there are some deeply rooted family operations to help meet the need.
At Valley Barber & Beauty Supply, a quick recruiting trip across the border in 1913 led to a family business that’s spanned four generations so far.
“My grandfather was recruited when a man here needed a barber,” says Joe Lopez, who handles outside sales for the company. “He worked for one in Mexico, so he came here and started to work.
Eventually he married, and opened his own shop in 1922. He was closest to the train, so the vendors would hit his shop first. He’d buy a lot of supplies and sell them to other barbers and beauty salons over the month before the next delivery, and that’s how it all started.”
Another longtime family business, Roberts Jewelry, also opened its doors in 1922. R.B. Roberts set up shop in the S. Lozano and Son Building that year, primarily as a clock and watch repair business. Cindy Nelson and her husband Brett, the third generation of the family and a graduate gemologist, now operates the business, which is located on Jackson Street.
“We feel that staying in the downtown area has helped us to thrive,” Nelson says. “We are seeing the children and grandchildren of our older clientele. Downtown is really changing and evolving, and we hope to endure right along with the change.”
The signs of the times around here, or at least most of them, are thanks to Godwin & Son Signs, yet another 1922 venture that’s still going strong today. Of course, it got its start in St. Louis and didn’t get to Harlingen until 1947, so it’s still the new kid on the block.
“Our grandfather began the company, and then our dad came to work here and now myself, my sister and our husbands are here,” says Mary Godwin, one of the company’s owners. “We serve local businesses throughout the valley and also do installations and service for national companies.”
The company also does a lot of work in custom signage and continues to expand its offerings from Harlingen’s central location – a major reason the firm’s still a local concern.
“We don’t have to charge a lot of travel time to the customers, and that’s one of the reasons this has been such a good place for us to be,” Godwin says.
The locale is also one of many reasons that Tri-Pak Machinery has been around for 75 years in pretty much the same downtown location since moving out of more humble quarters, says David Fitzgerald, president, who works at Tri-Pak along with brothers James and Robert, as well as sister Debra Groves and her husband Dan.
“He built a lot of things in the garage, and eventually needed more space,” Fitzgerald says of his grandfather, who founded the company.
The firm, which does custom design, engineering and manufacturing of packing-house machinery systems, has always and will continue to regard Harlingen as the place to be, he adds.
“It’s home – that’s what it really boils down to,” Fitzgerald says. “I’ve lived here my entire life, and so have my parents. We have a good workforce and are well established here. This is where we want to be.”
Story by Joe Morris
