Eric Biscaro (center) of Armor Building Supply along with his daughter and Co-CEO Rachelle and grandkids and Chief Robbinswith members of Station 27, display the new equipment they were able to purchase through the generous donation from Armour. (Steve Harrison photo)
By STEVE HARRISON
As many community members rely upon a volunteer fire department the North Hornell Fire Department relies on locals as well.
Many businesses have had to fight with the COVID pandemic and the decrease in revenue and the lack of staff, the North Hornell Fire Department Chief Mike Robbins finds himself short on procuring much needed new equipment in his fire department budget.
Since the global pandemic and the lack of doing fund raising and the increase in everything across the county has forced many to go through their budgets with a fine-tooth comb.
This is where Armor Building Supply has stepped up and help a local volunteer Fire Department. According to Chief Robbins, every couple of year Armor Building Supply has donated funds for different equipment the station is in need of that just doesn’t fit into the yearly budget.
This year the need for two new cold water rescue suits, personal flotation devices and also few tolls that required updating just fell short within the budget.
Eric Biscaro owner of Armor jokingly remembers when they first started remodeling the new store in North Hornell back in 2015 the fire department are called about every other day because of CO-2 detectors going off.
And with the help of the fire department, they were able to get it all dialed in and working correctly so the building and the employees were safe.
Biscaro feels Armor Building Supply is not just a business within the community but they are a member of the community and look to help the volunteer fire department because he wants to ensure the department is there for the community when needed.
Biscaro mentioned that helping this department is pretty special and this is the only store out of the 5 store in the company that has a member of the fire department as an employee.
Wes Bryant is currently employed at the North Hornell Store in the metal manufacturing and is an Assistant Chief with the department.
The North Hornell Fire Department is maned by 30 dedicated members and always looking for new recruits to join.
ArmorBuilding Supply is located at 7288 Seneca Road North in Hornell at the former Elenhimer Chevy dealership and is open Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Their number is 606-661-6114
ABOUT ARMOR
In 1987 Eric Biscaro, Armor owner/CEO, teamed up with Ronald Konka, Armor owner/sales manager, to start what they believed would be their first and only building supply outlet, located in Batavia, NY.
At this time, Biscaro came up with this idea to benefit his contracting firm, which he had started 10 years prior. Frustrated with the level of service he was receiving from his current wholesalers in the city, Biscaro and Konka decided to go forth with their plan and benefit not only Biscaro’s contracting firm but also, the many other firms in the area.
The building supply ended up being much more successful than expected, which led Biscaro and Konka to expand. In 1995, they opened their second store, located in Canadaguia, NY, their third in 2001 located in Olean, NY, their fourth store in 2009, located in Elmira, NY, and their latest venture has been the opening of a fifth store in Hornell, NY.
The team has also recently began manufacturing their own steel panels and trims; this facility known as “The Metal Center”, is also located in Hornell, NY. Although never intended to grow so much, Armor Building Supply plans to keep growing and continue on with this successful journey they began back in 1987!
You can visit their website by clicking HERE
