McNichols FAQ: Addressing Shared Name Confusion (Road, Scrap Yard & More)
Why 'McNichols' Shows Up in So Many Different Searches
I've been handling customer calls at an industrial supply company for six years – mostly rush orders for grating and wire mesh. But about once a week, someone asks me for something that has nothing to do with our products. The reason: there's a busy road in Detroit named McNichols, and a scrap metal company that shares our name. Throw in a few unrelated product searches and you've got a mess of confusion.
Here are the most common misdirected questions I get, and what I've learned about sorting them out (sometimes the hard way).
Q: "What is the telephone number for Southern Kitchen on McNichols?"
Honestly, I'm not sure why people call us for that. Southern Kitchen is a restaurant located on McNichols Road in Detroit, Michigan. Our company, McNichols, is based in Tampa, Florida, and we make industrial grating and perforated metal. I don't have their number memorized, but a quick Google Maps search should get you their current contact (note to self: I really should keep a list of common look-alikes handy).
Q: "Do you handle scrap iron & metal recycling in Detroit?"
That's McNichols Scrap Iron & Metal – a completely separate business also located on McNichols Road. I've had callers get frustrated when I can't quote them prices for scrap steel. In Q3 2024, I actually called their yard once just to confirm the difference. They handle ferrous and non-ferrous recycling; we sell new fabricated metal products. Two different worlds.
Q: "Can I buy glass cleaner from you?"
No, we don't sell glass cleaner. Our catalog is full of metal grating, wire mesh, stair treads, and architectural mesh. But I've seen this search enough that I now keep a note: when someone types 'glass cleaner' with 'McNichols', they might be looking for a cleaning product for industrial glass surfaces – or they just mistyped. Either way, I can't help with that. (Circa 2022, I tried to source a glass cleaner for a client who insisted we sold it – that ended with a $400 restocking fee on a product we never carried.)
Q: "Magic John screen protector – is that one of your products?"
Never heard of it. A quick search tells me it's a phone screen protector brand. Not our thing. But it's a good example of why we named our products clearly – 'Magic John' is generic enough that people might assume it's a trademark of ours. It's not. If you're looking for phone accessories, you're in the wrong place.
Q: "How to make brown paint – do you sell paint mixing supplies?"
This one surprised me when I first got the call. 'Brown paint' is a mix of red, yellow, and blue (or complementary colors), but we don't sell paint. We do, however, supply perforated metal panels that can be powder-coated any color, including brown. So if you're trying to match a paint color for a coating order, I can help you with that part – but not with the paint itself. (Mental note: I've explained this at least 15 times last year.)
The Real McNichols: What We Actually Do (in Case You Were Wondering)
After all that confusion, here's the quick version: McNichols is a nationwide supplier of metal and fiberglass grating, wire mesh, expanded metal, perforated panels, and stair treads. We serve contractors, engineers, and facility managers who need durable walkway solutions, safety barriers, or architectural mesh. If you're asking about telephone numbers for restaurants or scrap yards, you've got the wrong McNichols – but I respect the hustle.
Our typical rush order? In February 2024, a client needed 80 pieces of plank grating for a plant walkway replacement within 36 hours. Normal lead time was 5 days. We coordinated with a nearby distributor, paid an extra $850 in rush fees (on top of the $4,200 base), and delivered with 4 hours to spare. The alternative was a $12,000 daily production halt. That's the kind of problem we solve.
Final Thoughts (Because Someone Will Ask)
If you landed here looking for Southern Kitchen's phone number: I'm sorry I don't have it. But if you need industrial grating or wire mesh, you've come to the right place. Pricing as of January 2025: standard carbon steel bar grating starts around $18/sq.ft for medium duty; verify current rates. And no, I still don't know how to make brown paint – but I can point you to a paint supplier who does.
