Randy's Machine Shop changes hands after 30 years

For the past 30 years, Randy Shores has been the name, face and go to guy to get things done at Randy's Machine Shop in Malta. As of last week, the 30-year ownership of the well-known shop came to an end.

"He is working on cement and that is not good for him," Randy Shore's wife, Mary, said. "And just the high intensity of labor that he has to put out there is too much ...he's getting up there, he's almost 60, and this is a young guy's game."

Brian Lee Kunda, the owner of Kunda Welding Inc. in Sidney, is the new owner of Randy's Machine Shop. Kunda and Cody Mikesell have been good friends for years and when Kunda decided to purchase the shop in Malta, he asked Mikesell to become the shop's manager.

"He found out that this shop was for sale and wanted to buy it, but couldn't find a manager," Cody said. "He asked me if I would manage it and I said 'what the heck."

Cody and his wife, Signa, moved to town last week to take over the managerial tasks at Randy's Machine Shop. The couple has an 11-year-old son named Cameron who will be attending school in Malta this year. Prior to moving to Malta to take over managerial operations of Randy's Machine Shop, the family had lived in Sidney, MT for the past two years where they owned their own shop –MFM Construction. The first week of living in Phillips County has left the Mikesells already feeling like longtime members of the community.

"I like it here," Signa said. "Everybody has been very nice and welcoming. I feel like I have known them forever."

Cody agreed.

"It is going good and everybody is really nice," he said.

Randy's Machine Shop currently has eight employees (not counting Cody) and they will all retain employment at the Malta shop. Another familiar face will also be around the shop during this time of adjustment as the shop's namesake, Randy Shores, will stay aboard for a spell to help with the transition.

"Thank God," Cody said of keeping Randy at the shop. "It is busy. We have driven down here once to see (Randy's) and it was always busy, but I didn't realize it would be this busy. This is a small town, but it is pretty dang busy. This wouldn't be possible without Randy helping us out."

"He's like a young Randy," Mary said of Cody.

"I hope so," Cody added.

Randy's Machine Shop started in the back of what today is the Phillips County Museum (and then the Sports Center) almost 35 years ago. Randy's father, Ray, ran a shop out of the front of the building and Randy ran a gun shop out of the back.

"My mom (Donna) and dad owned it then and I went to gunsmith school and when I graduated I did gunsmithing out of there," Randy said. "I started doing more and more farm equipment work and we had a chance to sell the Sports Center and we did."

In October of 1985, Randy bought the building that would become Randy's Machine Shop and has been there and busy ever since.

"It's been a busy place," said Randy. "A lot of my original customers are long since dead. I worked for a lot of the older guys in the 80's and now they are mostly retired or passed away. Sometimes it is their grandkids I am working for now."

Randy attributes the 30-year success of his shop on loyal customers and hard work. He admitted that welding and fabrication are only a small portion of the work that goes on in and around the shop and added that one thing that has allowed him to stay in business for so long has been the ability to make something out of nothing much.

"We also fix things that no one else wants to or can," he said. "If they are scared replacing something is going to cost them a lot of money and we can save them a lot of money by fixing it, they are happy to come over here. We take basket cases and fill them with flowers. We fix a lot of things that should be thrown away, but this is a good business because of that."

When the day comes that Randy is no longer assisting at the machine shop, there will be no lack of things to do. The Shores still own and operate CollectM Antiques, the trailer rental business, Randy will still run JR Salvage and the couple has a number of rental properties in Malta that Randy says need upkeep.

"It's kind of sad because his customer base here are all his friends," Mary said. "For him not to see those people is going to be tough. It's good, because he won't be working those long hours, but he is going to miss these customers because that is his life."

Randy said he won't have any problem moving from owner to employee at the shop – as long as he doesn't have to answer the phone "every five seconds." Randy has always been a busy man as far as helping out around town, be it welding fences at museums or fairgrounds or running auctions at local charity events and he said those good deeds will continue in Phillips County.

"But I might also have to sharpen that fishing hook as well," he added.