Last year, General Welding & Fabricating Inc. owner Mark Andol had to lay off more than 20 employees because one of his bigger accounts was lost to a manufacturer in China.

The bitter taste of laying people off and losing a chunk of business to an entity overseas, he said, was the final push to act on an idea he had years ago: To open a store that sells U.S.-made products.

So, on April 3, Andol will open his Made in America Store just down the street from General Welding headquarters in Buffalo, New York.

Andol spent $50,000 to launch the 2,000-square-foot retail outlet, which he classifies as a country store. It will be stuffed with things made in this country: ketchup, socks, toys and games, pet food and canned goods, plus products his own company manufactures such as grills, fire rings for camping, chairs, garden art, picnic tables, and other accessories.

“Mostly steel products,” said Andol, who has been working in heavy steel manufacturing for more than 20 years.

The companies he buys from must verify the products were made in the United States. That includes all materials and labor. Another requirement is that any money the companies make from sales stays in this country.

The lowest-priced item, according to Andol, is a $1 kazoo made in Eden, New York. The most expensive is a $2,495 stainless-steel propane grill made by General Welding & Fabricating.

“If the store creates or saves one job, I will be happy,” said Andol, adding that he may hire some of the people he laid off last year, depending on sales.

General Welding & Fabricating manufactures trailers and is a distributor of snowplows. It had four locations until 2007. That’s when he expanded his headquarters in Elma, New York, and consolidated his manufacturing operation in Attica, New York. Another manufacturing facility is in Henrietta, New York.

Andol said 2005 revenues were in the range of $5.5 million to $6 million and topped $12 million before last year, when sales tapered off.