The motorcoach industry is mourning the loss of Mark Andol, the founder of the Made in America Store and a passionate supporter of tour operators nationwide.
Andol, 58, died unexpectedly earlier this week. He was known not only for his commitment to American manufacturing but also for the way he welcomed motorcoach groups to his flagship store in Elma, New York, just outside Buffalo.
Jack Kaufman, Vice President of Timi’s Tours in Moweaqua, Illinois, said Andol played a unique role in the tourism industry by building a destination around patriotism and hospitality.
“He personally greeted the bus groups that came through and made them feel like family,” Kaufman said. “We added his store as a stop on our Niagara Falls tours, and people would come back saying it was the highlight of their trip.”
The Made in America Store, founded in 2010 after Andol’s welding business lost a major contract to overseas manufacturing, was created to be a symbol of resilience and national pride. Every item sold in the store — down to the cardboard packaging — was required to be 100% American-made.
“They started with about 50 items, and eventually had thousands,” Kaufman said. “Mark was deeply committed. Made in America didn’t just mean the final assembly — it meant every part of the product.”
‘He loved buses’
Andol was also an active advocate for the motorcoach industry during the pandemic. Kaufman recalled appearing with him on a radio program the store hosted during COVID to discuss how the industry was struggling and what needed to be done.
“He loved buses,” Kaufman said. “He even posted photos on Facebook of every bus that came to visit. He celebrated the 1,300th and 1,500th buses with special shoutouts. He understood our value.”
Over the past decade, Timi’s Tours and dozens of other operators built Andol’s store into their regular itineraries. Many formed lasting friendships with the team there, including the store’s B2B Director Dorothy Furtney, who remained close with Kaufman’s family.
“He just saw the value in the people coming in on buses and loved seeing them travel and explore,” Kaufman said. “He was one of those people who brought energy and heart into everything.”
Details about a memorial service will be announced later.
