J.R. Nix, Founder, Nix Demolition and Richard Nix, Manager of Nix Demolition.

What started out as supplementary income from scrap metal soon turned into a thriving full-time enterprise for perceptive father-and-son team.

After 30 years of moving houses around in Los Angeles, JR Nix decided to retire. Much deserved, no doubt. But this situation didnÕt dull his ears to the knock of opportunity when it came. In 1990, a friend of his who worked in a local oil field turned him onto 6 miles of 6" pipe that needed to be cut up and hauled away. Thinking of a tidy little retirement project, JR enlisted the help of his son, Richard, and set to cutting up the pipe and hauling it away for the value of the scrap metal. At this stage, neither of them imagined what this might lead to; but the money was good, and in 2 to 3 months, they had it all done.

The situation became a little more serious when the duo went to a local auction and purchased drilling rigs for the purpose of scraping them out. Realizing that they had bitten off more than they could chew, they needed to broker out a large part of the job. This event brought them to clarity on two important points: 1) profit margins disappear when you broker out too much; and 2) some serious money was to be made in this business. Yet this required commitment and some risk. So they purchased a brand new 1991 Dodge Cummins Diesel truck and a 30-foot gooseneck trailer. JR raised the purchase money by selling off some of his property. They then began doing 20 to 50 ton jobs.

Nix Demolition donates time and equipment to their community.
Pictured above is their John Deere 690ELC Excavator at a
demo/clean-up project of one entire burned out city block in Wasco, CA.

Their bold move was rewarded when these two start-from-scratch fellows hooked up with a farmer who owned 64,000 acres in Lemore, with lots of old junk equipment laying about. This bigger job called for even more equipment. So they purchased a 1964 Peterbilt, and built their own 40 foot scrap trailer. A trend in their business approach was established: grow in size to match the job. And now with more equipment, they were able to take on even larger jobs.

The next large spurt in growth occurred in 1995 when they landed the opportunity to demolish a 19 acre cotton seed oil mill, loaded with steel buildings. In order to handle a job of this scope, they purchased their first excavator, a Link-Belt 9680 Excavator. It took them over a year of tearing down, and hauling away the metal before they were finished with this job.

The year 1997 was a very good one for Richard Nix. He seems to have come into his own that year. Previous to that time, he described himself as a "rowdy old bum" who only came to his father for work when he needed just enough money for his crazy and hectic lifestyle. He praises his father for putting up with him. But in 1997, refreshed by the inclusion of God into his life, he married Roxanne, and was given the business by his father. Simply just gave it to him. It seems "giving" was also something that JR benefited from. For, many years earlier, depleted in funds from funding his wifeÕs seven-year battle with brain cancer, the First Congregational Church of Wasco helped him out; even gave him a much-needed truck. So when the opportunity arose in the town of Wasco, Richard offered his help. He demolished a burned out section of Wasco, for only the price of the scrap, and donated all the profits to their church.

(Above left) Roxanne Nix, Safety Coordinator, Nix Demolition. (Above right) Nix Demolition offers professional operators and laborers with late model equipment to handle any size demolition project.

Having started quite literally from scratch, Nix Demolition now thrives, and shows no signs of swaying from their solid growth. Today they have ten employees, three excavators, two lowbed trailers, 5 late-model pickup trucks, 5 semi trucks, several roll-off trailers, 14 scrap trailers, a 644 JD Wheel Loader, demolition grapples, concrete pulverizers, and scrap metal shears, among other assorted equipment. They perform jobs from Fresno to San Diego.

Yet Richard is anticipatory of the future, and plans even more growth, expanding into new areas such as Hazardous Waste Removal (they have an EPA number and a toxic-substance license), and Environmental projects- in which he sees great opportunities. Their next big more will come when they open a seven-acre recycling facility in Bakersfield. They have already purchased the property and a scale. Plying their simple but effective formula for success, we expect to see Nix Demolition to keep hauling away.