CADIZ – The only independently owned welding supply business in the Ohio Valley has added a second location. The James C. Dawes Company, which opened in Martins Ferry in 1941, has expanded to Cadiz.

“We already do a lot of business in Cadiz,” said Brian Dawes, the third-generation president of the family-owned company. “To have a physical presence, I think it was a good move.”

Dawes predicts further business with the oil and gas industry, one of the reasons for coming to Harrison County.

The new shop is located at 780 E. Market Street, formerly Heavistar. Dawes Co. purchased the building in March of this year, but it needed at lot of work as it had sat unoccupied for nearly two years. The store is being managed by Dawes’ daughter, Rebecca Kinsey.

Dawes opened on Monday, revealing a showroom which had previously been hidden from view by paper on the panoramic windows. He is planning a grand opening sometime this spring.

“We’ll let people know what we’re doing. We’ll bring in manufacturers, have music and food,” said Dawes.

Besides welding supplies and gases, Dawes also sells medical, lab and specialty gases and industrial supplies. They offer welder repairs, welding engineering, consultations and other services relating to the gas and oil industry.

Some of Dawes’ larger clients include Belmont-Harrison Career Centers, Bulldog Rack Company, MarkWest Energy, Eastern Automated Piping, OVMC/EORH, Tek Construction Services and Timet.

In Cadiz, they will have a training room for safety and learning about products, and a service shop for repairs. More products will be added to shelves, and there is plenty of room for expansion. Dawes estimates the building is three times larger than the original location in Martins Ferry. There’s even space for a history room, showing relics from the long-running company’s past.

“We’re just going to take it slowly and see how things go,” said Dawes.

For more information, go to www.jcdawes.com, call (740) 942-WELD or find the James C. Dawes Co. on Facebook.

Warner may be reached at mwarner@timesleaderonline.com.