McKenzie Building Center

In 1996 Alvin Gravos took a chance when a good business opportunity presented itself. And he wasn't the only one. At the time, Gravos was managing what was then Great Plains Supply, in Watford City, when he and his employee Cheryl Maynard found out the store would be closing its doors. "I guess at the time we just decided to buy it rather than to have to go out and look for different jobs," Gravos recalled.

Maynard was his star employee back then and she too didn't want to seek out new employment elsewhere. "At the time it was a scary move. The economy wasn't nearly as busy as it is today. But, neither of us were afraid to work hard so that's just what we did," Maynard said.

Gravos and Maynard, along with Gravos' wife, Patricia, a long-time business partnership was formed that spanned nearly two decades.

One of the first things they did as business partners was change the name of the store. At the time, the Great Plains Supply Corporation was selling off its locations and eventually completely closed all of its' doors. Changing the name to McKenzie Building Center was agreed upon by them almost immediately.

Throughout the years the store provided locals with needed building materials. They sold siding, roofing materials, windows, tile, doors, steel posts and more, and were knowledgeable about all of it. Working with few employees, everyone worked in every aspect of the business. "Nobody had just one job back then because there weren't enough people to go around," Maynard said. "In the early days, many farmers and ranchers needed steel posts and we couldn't deliver them in the day during business hours. So, we did that at night," Maynard recalled.

In about 2000, they added carpet and home appliances to their product line, following the closing of Olson Flooring and Appliances.

Throughout the years they tried to keep their store competitive and cost friendly for the community they had come to know as friends and neighbors. Maynard grew up in the area and Gravos relocated to Watford City in 1974 and attended high school there. They knew their customer base personally and always offered up the friendliest service.

"There were a lot of good times but there were some lean years in the beginning. We always got by though," Gravos recalled.

In 1978 the store was relocated from Main Street because the business outgrew the building. Getting shipment trucks in and out logistically, with the layout of the street, was also becoming increasingly difficult.

Today the McKenzie Building Center is located at 1504 4th Ave NE in Watford City. It still serves the area by providing area businesses and community members with the materials they need to continue in their industry and home improvement projects.

Gravos and Maynard sold the business in 2012 to a man from Canada.

Both agree that with the oil industry impacting the area, the landscape of the business changed drastically during their last years as owners. It was the ramped up need for additional merchandise and general day-to-day hustle that led them to their decision to retire. Early on, they were able to get by with only four employees. In its final heyday, they were employing as many as 15 people.

"I am most proud that we were able to bring needed merchandise to the community. But, it was the continual patronage of the community throughout the years that made us successful," Maynard stated.