Stump N' Grind is a locally owned, licensed and insured stump grinding company based in Stillwater Township, NJ. Robert, who customers know as Bobby, runs the machine and answers the phone.
Our story
Robert fell into stump grinding by accident. He worked for a power equipment company that rented out equipment, and he rented a stump grinder to clear stumps on his family's farm. He posted about it on Facebook, a few friends asked if he could take care of their stumps too, and it grew from there.
Before that, Robert is a fourth generation butcher and spent 15 years with a large supermarket chain in and around the Manhattan tri-state area. He then opened and ran a small engine shop in Milford, PA, buying, selling and repairing lawn equipment. He taught himself to run a stump grinder.
How the business grew
- 2019: Starts grinding stumps as a hobby on the shop's rental grinder, a 31 horsepower Barreto tracked machine, which he ran for 3 years.
- April 2022: Stump N' Grind LLC is formed, and Robert buys his first machine, a 55 horsepower Rayco RG 55 tracked grinder.
- 2023: Buys a Bandit SG 75 new. The Rayco could not keep up with the work he was taking on, and the Bandit is bigger and more powerful.
A lesson that stuck
Early on, a customer asked Robert to clean up the wood chips from a stump he had ground. He badly underestimated how much debris one stump makes and tried to shovel it all by hand into his pickup. It was a hard lesson, and he bought a tractor soon after so cleanups go quicker and easier. Today that is a Mahindra 1526, and a smaller Barreto SG30 handles tight spots.
How customers find us
Word of mouth brought the first customers. Today many come from social media, and Robert is often recommended in Facebook groups. He treats every job with the attention to detail customers expect and answers inquiries quickly. His best repeat customers take pride in their yards and want someone they can rely on.
The machine
A Bandit SG 75, bought new in 2023: tracked, remote-controlled, 75 horsepower diesel. It narrows to 35 inches to fit through a standard fence opening, and it runs on non-marking tracks. See the full specs.
The biggest stump so far
A homeowner called Robert about a huge stump and mound at the end of their driveway that blocked the view when pulling out. They also wanted the dirt and chips hauled away so they could widen the driveway. The stump and mound measured 11 feet wide and 10 feet high. It took two days of grinding and digging, with a large dump trailer to carry it off, and about 27 yards of material left the property. The front yard ended up level with the driveway, with a clear view to pull in and out safely.
How we work
- Text a photo for a price. Text any time, day or night.
- We tell you the price before we show up and we check access first on tight jobs.
- We keep the lawn in mind: the most direct route in, few hard turns, and safety barriers around the work area. Here is how a job works.
- We clean up when we finish.
Got a stump? Send us a photo.
A picture of the stump and the way in gets you a price. Or text it to 973-841-4971. Free estimates, open 24/7.