Mark Andol, founder of the store in Elma, New York, that stocked only products made in the USA, died on July 15, 2025, at age 59, the Alliance for American Manufacturing (AAM) reported.
From lost contracts to a store
Andol owned General Welding & Fabricating in Elma. According to AAM, in 2007 he lost two multi-million-dollar accounts to Chinese companies on the same weekend, which forced him to lay off half his workforce and close two of his four shops.
He responded by opening a store devoted to USA-made goods in 2010, in the empty showroom of a closed auto dealership, against the advice of family and friends. It opened with 50 products from a handful of manufacturers. AAM reports it now carries about 15,000 products. A new flagship store opened in 2016, and by 2020 Andol had eight locations in Western New York.
“Everybody bet against me, and I didn’t care.”
Mark Andol, to AAM in January 2025
The store became a stop for tour buses heading to nearby Niagara Falls. AAM reports it marked its 15th anniversary in April 2025 and welcomed its 1,500th busload of shoppers in June. Andol’s story was also told in a 2013 documentary about his manufacturing business. Buffalo station WGRZ covered a public tribute held in his memory.
Why it matters for Made in USA
Andol proved there is a retail market for goods made in the USA when someone does the sourcing work for shoppers. His store vetted products so customers did not have to guess what a label meant.
His start is also a familiar story. Many USA manufacturers lost business to imports in the 2000s. Andol turned that loss into a business built on the label itself, and showed how much consumers value knowing where things are made.
FAQ
Who was Mark Andol?
The owner of General Welding & Fabricating in Elma, New York, who founded a store there in 2010 that stocks only products made in the USA.
How many products does the store carry?
About 15,000 products, according to AAM, up from 50 when it opened.
Why did he start the store?
After losing two major accounts to Chinese companies in 2007, he wanted to help save and create USA manufacturing jobs by selling domestic goods.
Source & credit
Originally published by the Alliance for American Manufacturing (Jeffrey Bonior) on July 24, 2025: In Memoriam: Mark Andol of the “Made in America Store”
Tribute coverage by WGRZ: Store founder Mark Andol remembered with heartfelt tribute