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2212 Sullivan Trail Forks Township Pa. 18040 610-258-2963 |
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History 1948 –2022 |
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Started in 1948 by my father Donald Leiser. The first store was called Donald W Leiser Sales & Service and was located in Bethlehem. We sold International Harvester Industrial Tractors, Toro Mowers and Wheel Horse Tractors. We had a full service lawn and garden center with fertilizers, custom mixed lawn seed, Christmas decorations, and the largest selection of bird feeders In Eastern Pa.
In 1960 a Rental department was opened as a separate business called Bethlehem Rental Service. Spending most of my childhood around the business I was put on the payroll in 1968 as a 14 year old. The current business plan was adopted in the 1970s as we dropped the full service garden center to focus on the Rental business and Lawn Equipment sales and service. In 2006 we gave up retailing Toro but continue to service and support Toro and Toro Dingo.
The Forks Township Store was opened as a branch of Leiser’s Inc. in the spring of 1985. We used the barn and farm house of the old Sandt farm as showroom and storage.
I purchased the Forks Township store from my father in 1995. While both business used the name Leiser’s and handle most of the same services there are differences. To differentiate between the two stores we have added the name Rental Barn to our logo in reference to the 140 year old barn we use for storage. |
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Two Allentown Fair displays one from the late 1940’s and the other from the mid 1950’s. That is my Father on the far left. |
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Our second Bethlehem Store 1958 Our first Rental Store 1960 Currently Stefano’s Restaurant |
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When we opened in 1985 the farm house was our first showroom Our currant showroom is the old shed on the right. Far right is a satellite dish. In 1985 there was limited cable service in Forks Township we Rented and Sold Satellite systems. Between the dish and shed (pre Meco Rd) is nothing but corn fields. |
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Forks Township |
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Leiser’s Bethlehem 1961 Leiser’s Bethlehem 2960 Linden St The currant Stefano’s restaurant far left 3608 Nazareth Pile Grand Opening 1970 closed 2018 |
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The Story of Leiser’s Forks Township is a battle many small business face today. As we celebrate our 37th year in Forks Township we have had years of growth slowed by Township officials rejecting our expansion plans and sometimes battles just to protect our property rights. When my father started in 1948 the small independent business’s were the foundation of this country. Today we are dinosaurs as the entrepreneurial sprit has been killed off by over burdensome regulations.
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The Leiser Propeller This 9’ long wooden propeller had no real significance in my father’s lifelong involvement in Aviation. However, it was just something he liked and purchased. Dad hollowed out the hub and installed a clock. The propeller clock was mounted above the front door of the first showroom when it opened in 1955. The Propeller clock had always been a conversation piece and had always been hanging above the front door. It was moved to the 3608 Nazareth Pike store In 1970. The original clock had been replaced, but a new clock continued on. When the owners of Leiser’s Bethlehem were evicted from the Bethlehem Building I found the propeller amongst the trash in an unused office.
What happened to the Bethlehem Store My father passed in 2006 without a succession plan. My sisters locked out the other shareholders and ran the business without a board of directors. That began a lethargic downward spiral. Once they burned through the nest egg my father left they stopped paying rent and started selling rental equipment to cover business costs. The move up the street was unsustainable without tool rentals. The remaining inventory was sold in October of 2019.
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Bethlehem |
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. Construction Home Repair Party Lawn and Garden Miscellaneous
Lawn Equipment Service The Junk Drawer Policies FAQ
You have reached the bottom of the business page In a small business the boundaries between personal and business get fuzzy The page gets a little weird from this point. Proceed at your own risk!
Personal Stuff Gravity Racing Handcycling Old Mowers Forks Township vs Us
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