Four generations deep, the London family hopes to continue turning junk into treasure for those who visit their scrapyard.

“It’s going to keep going in the family it looks like,” said Darrin London, one in a long line of Londons to work at Twin City Metals at 55 E. Bruneau Ave. in Kennewick. “We’re still making it.”

The business was established in 1951, and it appears frozen in time, an ode to the industrial bygone days of Kennewick. It's been in the same building since the 1950s, with a scrap pile filled with treasures waiting to be discovered — or recycled.

Twin City Metals specializes in metal recycling services for residential and commercial customers.

Keeping it in the family

Anyone who's come through the door since the business opened 73 years ago has likely dealt with a London.

The business was founded by Louis London, who passed it on to his sons, Jim, Greg and Tom.

Back then, Richland seemed far away, and Pasco and Kennewick were known as the twin cities, Louis told the Tri-City Herald before his death in 1992. He said the family considered changing the scrap yard’s name as the three cities grew, but by then it “was too well known,” he said.

The three sons took over where their dad left off.

While Jim is currently president as far as titles go, the family says titles don’t mean much to them.

“We don’t know better. It’s all we know how to do. It’s what we know how to do,” Tom said.

As metal comes and goes from the Twin City Metals scrap yard, Tom has been a staple at the junkyard. It’s the only job he’s has ever known. He’s been working for the family business since he was 13 years old.

Jim’s son Darrin and his grandson Cooper also work at the shop behind Zip’s Drive-In on Columbia Drive.

Four generations have stood behind the counter while three generations run the current operation, but the family’s involvement in the scrap business dates back at least five generations.

Cooper’s great-great grandfather picked up scrap metal in a horse-drawn wagon in Portland.

“It’s just a family business. It’s one of those things that just stick in the blood,” Darrin said.

Darrin made his way home to Kennewick after attending culinary school after high school. He opened AmeRAWcan Bistro, a raw foods bar, in the Tacoma area before realizing working nights and weekends wasn’t the lifestyle he wanted.

Tossing his kitchen apron aside, he returned to the scrap yard. He also owns Navy City Metals, a scrap yard in Bremerton.

Circle of life

Tom said his favorite part of the job, besides interacting with customers, is the circle of life of the industry.

“We sell new steel and scrap,” he said. “Most people don’t realize this stuff has been here before. It keeps going around.”

The metal often finds its way back to Kennewick

“Some people buy stuff every day,” Tom said. “Some people are looking for a lawn mower part while others are looking for treasure. It’s the classic ‘one man’s junk is another man’s treasure.’ Some will come every day, sometimes twice a day, because they don’t want to miss out.”

Services offered

Twin City Metals is all about buying and selling metals: new metals, scrap metal, and everything in between. It offers metal recycling and a steel warehouse, full of welding equipment and supplies and a large inventory of aluminum and stainless steel, which is prevalent in the food processing industry.

“From the biggest corporation to the lady with a few bags of cans,” Tom said. “We are like most other businesses – you do 90% of your business with 10% of your customers.”

Scrap metals include aluminum, iron, copper or brass. The materials are weighed based on type and size. Twin City Metals offers bins and a pickup service so commercial customers don’t have to haul in their scrap metal.

“Metal might not be worth much,” Darrin said, “but I hope people will bring it in and keep it out of the landfill. It gets repurposed. It’s better for the environment.”

Supply and demand

Though not a lot has changed in 73 years, Twin City Metals isn’t immune to the dips that come with supply and demand.

“We don’t control the markets,” Tom said. “We’re just a part of it.”

Business isn’t as profitable as it once was because of increasing costs.

“Everything is so expensive,” Tom said. “The price of scrap doesn’t necessarily go up if other things go up. In fact, it goes the other way. If the price of fuel has gone way up and the price of labor goes up, the price of scrap doesn’t go up. We just make due, make less."

The Londons say that despite the growth of the Tri-Cities, Kennewick still feels like a small town. The same kids who used to come in with their parents decades ago are still coming in now.

“I used to not be able to see over the counter,” Tom said. “Ultimately nothing really changes. It’s the same building and the same people. I guess things have been built up around us.”

Twin City Metals: 455 E. Bruneau Ave., Kennewick; 509-582-8207; twincitymetalsinc.com. Hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday and 8 a.m. to noon Saturday.