The History of Brodin Sheet Metal

"Its still fun!" says John Tofte, owner of Brodin Sheet Metal, 1998 Thief River Falls Business of the Year. The origins of Brodin Sheet Metal go back to the depression era. and in the beginning, business was conducted out of a truck -- back in the days were the business went to the customer rather than the customer coming to the business.

One of the first shop sites was near where the Firestone Store is located now, and for 46 years, between 1946 and 1996, the business could be found at the corner of Main and 11th Street.

Much about Brodin Sheet Metal has not change over the years, including the establishments name. When John Tofte purchased the business from Rodney Brodin and Don Thyren in 1977, he left the name intact. "I don't have an ego problem," John says, They had a good business they were fair with customers. We've tried to do the same thing." John Tofte and his wife Nancy came to Thief River Falls in 1969. John was employed as the Assistant Director of the Thief River Falls AVTI. Nancy taught school and cared for the couples two young children. John is from a town named for his ancestors on the north shore of Lake Superior about 80 miles from Duluth. As a youth, he worked in construction and after a stint in the Navy he earned a Masters Degree in education.

While he spent eight years in his position at the AVTI, John says "I wanted to do my own thing." And that is why, when the opportunity presented itself, he purchased Brodin Sheet Metal. Looking at the advertisement in the Yellow Pages of the telephone directory, one would assume that the nature of the business is sales, installation and service of heating and air conditioning equipment. However, there is a whole lot more that goes on at Brodin's. Sheet Metals fabricated into exhaust systems, air exchangers and heat collection and return systems. Much of the company's work is unique and specialized for commercial businesses and industry. Brodin Sheet Metal is a dealer of Lennox and Bryant equipment, and John notes that technology has brought many changes to the business over the years with an emphasis placed on more efficiency for less cost.