A cut above

My glass top table cut to perfection!

Part of a series of articles highlighting local employees going above and beyond during the coronavirus pandemic.

Heroes wear many uniforms ... and this one wears jeans and a baseball cap!

I’d been wanting to buy a glass top for my pedestal table for five years. The stay-at-home mandate created time to research this purchase. I grabbed my phone and typed in “glass tops” in Google Maps, and a list appeared.

First listing: permanently closed. Sad. Second listing: within five minutes, I knew this was NOT the person I wanted to do business with as he made selecting a glass top as complicated as rocket science.

Then I called the third listing, Superior Glass and Mirror in Avon Lake. Owner Kurt Kuenzle answered and within five minutes, I knew we had found our person! Simple, quick, efficient – YAY! He was closing in 20 minutes, yet he said my hubby and I could come in right then and there.

Within 10 minutes of our arrival, Kurt showed us options, shared pros and cons and gave us the info we needed to complete the purchase. Just like that! A dream come true. We complimented him not only on his of-service attitude but on his ability to simplify the purchase process.

We were so impressed with this competent, young business owner that I had to ask, “How did you ever learn so much about glass?” He replied, “I’ve been doing this since I was 15. I used to work in my father’s shop on school breaks. Everyone on my dad’s side does glasswork since my grandfather started a glass business in 1940.”

Now you may ask, “How does this relate to Kurt being a hero during the Covid crisis?”

I asked him how the coronavirus has affected his business. Smiling humbly, he said, “I do what I have to do to stay in business and make my customers happy.” Then he told the following story: “I had placed glass orders for various projects like shower doors and wine rooms to be shipped from Pennsylvania. When the Covid crisis hit, I was originally told there would be serious delays, leading to unfilled orders, refunds and unhappy customers.

“So when the manufacturer announced it was closing its doors at 11 p.m. that night, I called and persuaded them to rush the order. I hopped in my truck and drove five hours each way through wind and rain to pick up 1,000 pounds of glass. Returning the same day, I called my customers back and told them their orders were now ahead of schedule and ready to install.”  Grinning, he added, “I worked my magic with distribution and was able to get the job done.”

Well, he worked his magic to get the job done for us, too. Within two weeks, I had my glass top table. It fits perfectly and I love it! Thank you, Kurt! And thanks to all the small business owners who not only go above and beyond the line of duty to stay afloat but provide outstanding service as well.

diane rehor

Resident of Bay Village since 1987. 

Read More on Community Service
Volume 12, Issue 11, Posted 10:38 AM, 06.02.2020