Bartons Heating & Air Conditioning Inc., a 13-year-old Spokane company that at one time employed about 40 people, has closed its doors. However, two of its managers say they plan to launch a successor company, called The Barton Boys Inc., as soon as theyve obtained the necessary licensing.


Dennis and Karen Phillips, who have owned Bartons Heating for the last four years, announced with deep regret in an April 30 letter to vendors that they were closing the business. They referred all questions to their attorney, Barry Davidson, who couldnt be reached immediately for comment.


Phil Freeland and Ted Morris, who were the companys install and service managers, respectively, say the business closed April 19, and employed about 11 people at the time. They say they have been working since then to set up the successor company, and hope to have it operating by the end of this month.


We want to carry on the Barton name. Gary (Barton, the companys founder) built a heck of a good operation here, with a dedicated, veteran staff, Freeland says. Morris says, We dont want that resource to dry up and blow away on us, plus we feel an obligation to the employees. The two men say theyve consulted with Gary and Sue Barton, who sold Bartons Heating to the Phillipses, about their plans.


Theyre very supportive. They think its a really good idea, and they think we can do a good job, Freeland says.


He and Morris say the new company will do heating and air-conditioning equipment installation and service work in the light-commercial and residential markets, but wont pursue work on large construction projects as Bartons Heating did.


They say they hope to employ as many of the former Bartons Heating employees as possible and to locate the new company somewhere near the former Bartons Heating location at 11401 E. Montgomery Drive, where they currently are using temporary office space.


Gary Barton and two other Spokane contractors, Bill Pulliam, owner of United Plumbing Inc., and Randy Kloetsch, owner of Tower Electric Inc., built the 12,500-square-foot building on Montgomery Drive about eight years ago so the three companies could share space there and offer customers one-stop convenience. United Plumbing and Tower Electric continue to occupy space there. All three men formerly were managers at Kohler Tower United, a well-known contractor and retailer here that had ceased operations a number of years earlier.