By Paris Goodnight

Salisbury Post

When big businesses shut their doors, it’s big news.

But George Simmons said he thought it should be noted when small businesses close for good too. He’s shutting the doors for the last time on Simmons Power Tool Service, not because of a lack of business but health issues — not only his, but his son’s also. And with no one else in line to take over the electric motor repair shop, he couldn’t go on.

He said his accountant convinced him not to go into 2007 if he was thinking of calling it quits, so his last day was Dec. 31.

But he still has some odds and ends to take care of, and some jobs for customers to finish up. He wants other customers to know he won’t be able to take any new work.

Simmons, 71, spent about eight years of going solo as an electric motor repairman. He had already retired once, leaving Lingle Electric after a 17-year stint there. He also had worked at other jobs, including his first stop in Salisbury with Delta Electric in the early 1960s, and in South Carolina after beginning his career of repairing electric motors in 1955.

He had the perfect setup in the building that had also housed Jim Hurley’s air conditioning business at 1731 S. Main St. “I’ve done everything, including being janitor,” said Simmons, who is not sure how he’ll handle getting rid of his equipment but won’t auction it anytime soon.