Now’s the time to prep vehicles for summer road trips
May 29, 2012
LSU ready for NCAA Tournament
May 29, 2012
Houston native Bob Lichenstein sailed into the Tri-parish region on a tug boat in 1964. “I caught a boat in Port Author, Texas and came with Guidry Brothers to Golden Meadow,” he said. At the age of 24, Bob, now 72, liked what he saw and stayed to build the work that identifies his life of motion.
Both offshore and on land, Bob’s career took several turns before finally gliding into one business. He eventually opened Houma Bearing Service, and will mark a 25th anniversary in October. During the past quarter century he has kept a variety of customers operational.
“Just about everything that moves has some sort of a bearing in it,” Bob said. “Our primary business is bearings, but we stock gear boxes and a power transmission product … anything to do with movement, including roller chains, sprockets for the oil industry, automotive, seafood, trucking, you name it.”
With approximately 400 accounts both inland and offshore, Houma Bearing Service prides itself on being knowledgeable and available. “In one way [being an independent shop] is an advantage because we don’t have to answer to anybody else. On the other hand the bigger stores can sell it for less than I can [based on volume sales].”
Houma Bearing Service has an average $300,000 inventory on hand that includes 38 varieties of bearings, bushings, balls, reducers, couplings, seals and lubricants. Special orders are no problem, and unusual items are almost a specialty.
The surprise comes when it is discovered that Bob’s business has products that nobody else stocks, such as wheel bearings for a 1957 Chevy, in addition to common items. This businessman explained that variety and availability offers him an edge and keeps his doors open.
The oil industry might be the largest part of Bob’s client base, but Houma Bearing Services has come to the rescue of even more residents and businesses in times of need. “When Hurricane Gustav came through most people evacuated, but my wife, Suzie, and I stayed, and it is a good thing, because when the hurricane came right over the top of us, some of the parishes pumps burned out from running 24 hours a day,” he said. “Thank goodness we were here, because we had the [needed] bearings on the shelf and they were able to get replaced and pumps kept going.” Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes remain loyal customers as a result.
At Houma Bearing Service it is not about the initial sale of a part. “Our sign says ‘Houma Bearing Service.’ We don’t just sell bearings. If somebody walks in here with a bearing we can identify that bearing and if it is available we can get it for you. If you come in with broken pieces, we can tell you what it is.
“Wal-Mart sells boat trailer bearings,” Bob continued, “but if you go in and ask a salesman what it is he is not going to be able to identify it. My challenge and reward has always been being able to identify a bearing that no one else can identify. The idea is to get a customer out of a bind.”
Before settling into the business for which he is best known, and while still working on support boats in the early 1970s, Bob and his first wife, Mabel, opened and operated The Chicken House fried chicken restaurant on the bank of Bayou Lafourche in Golden Meadow. Eventually they sold that business.
In 1974, Bob went to work for Bearing Sales as a truck driver. Within six months he became manager. In September 1987 the owner sold his interest to Bob who then opened his Houma store, which remains the only independent bearing dealer in the region.
“My first wife passed away in 1990,” Bob said. “Suzie was the sister of her hospice nurse.”
Bob and Suzie, as they are known – some bayou region folks have difficulty properly pronouncing their central European surname, so they tend not to use it much – met simply as acquaintances. It was each of their mothers working in smooth motion that directed them toward one another.
“I also played music for 40 years,” Bob said. “We were the house band at George’s Place and we played a lot of benefit programs. We’ve gotten keys to the city and awards for [community] service.”
For Bob and Suzie a typical day begins at 6 a.m. with coffee and listening to news. “We watch the stock market reports,” he said. “It can tell what kind of day or month we are going to have.” After work, it is home for dinner and another check on business news before bed.
“We know the hobnobers, but we really don’t go do much with them,” Bob said. “Oh, we might occasionally go to the casino and play the penny machines. But that’s about it.” Their big celebration this month was making a final payment on the Grand Caillou Road building that houses Houma Bearing Service.
Claiming he is semi-retired, Bob’s days are pretty routine for a guy that in his youth took a boat adventure and built a new life, and now is responsible for keeping hundreds of businesses and personal products in motion. He is not planning any big changes.
“It took me 40 years to get where we are so I’m not going to let it fold now,” Bob said. “My son [Bob Jr.] works here and we are fixin’ to hire my wife’s nephew. We’re going to have family from both sides that keep it going.”
Bearings keep just about everything that moves in motion. This business keeps them working.
