Ballard to continue Cedars of Idaho tradition

PONDERAY — Tom Clark is retiring after 40 years of selling cedar products, but wants his customers to know his 25-year-old business, Cedars of Idaho, will live on.

"I'm looking at continuing the tradition," said Rich Ballard, the new owner of Cedars of Idaho.

Now 66 and ready to move on and do other things during his "active retirement," Clark said he has been talking about retiring for years.

"The customers wanted it to continue," Clark said. "Rich will do great."

Ballard purchased the business from Clark and officially took over on Feb. 1, but as the business is just opening for the season, Clark plans to help out for a bit. His last day will be May 16.

Clark opened Cedars of Idaho in Colburn and, nine years ago, moved the business to its current location on the corner of West Bronx Road and Highway 95, a mile north of Schweitzer Cutoff Road in Ponderay.

"It was really a family business," Clark said. "A lot of people know my daughters ... We didn't know what we were doing when we started, but we learned together."

He said his three daughters all worked for the business at various times throughout the 25 years he owned it.

Cedars of Idaho provides customers with cedar for fencing, decking, tongue and groove, siding, shingles and raised garden beds. The cedar used by the company comes from all over, but is primarily coastal cedar, Ballard said. Western Red Cedar is known as one of the most beautiful, versatile and durable woods in the world, he said.

"I used to say it's guaranteed by Mother Nature," Clark said.

The only other product carried by Cedars of Idaho is Maze nails to go along with the cedar products.

Clark said his customers come from all over as well, including Washington, Oregon, Montana and British Columbia.

Ballard said his family owns a variety of restaurants, but he is no stranger to woodworking. He has built decks and various other projects, and purchased wood from Clark on occasion, which is how the two got to know each other.

Ballard said he plans to continue running the business just as Clark and his family did. Generally, it will be open between April and November, though he said it could open early depending on weather in coming years. The hours are the same as well — 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Saturday. If a customer can not make it during regular business hours, they can call and schedule an appointment with Ballard at 208-263-1208.

"Thank you to all the customers for 25 years," Clark said. "There are just so many people I'd just like to thank for their patronage ... letting me supply them with cedar all these years."

Mary Malone can be reached by email at mmalone@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow her on Twitter @MaryDailyBee.