Richmond residents are saying good-bye to a business that has been a fixture for area farmers for nearly 20 years. At the end of February, Quality Farm and Fleet will close its doors for good, leaving 15 employees at the Richmond location without a job. "Quality has been a big part of my life for the past eight years. The people here are like family," said Tracy Miller, who anticipates gaining employment with Tractor Supply Company following the closing of Quality Farm and Fleet.

After entering into voluntary Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings in October, the Muskegon-based farm and ranch supply store was purchased last month by Tractor Supply Company at a public auction held in Grand Rapids. Quality stores were working with an investment company and anticipated that reorganization would pull them out from underneath Chapter 11, but, in the end, found an inability to recover from significant financial woes.

 
Jim Hanus
www.AllAboutRichmond.com
email: list@allaboutrichmond.com