Setting up shop
Local business purchases former hardware store, lumber yard and getting ready to make some changes
A Pictou County businessman who recently purchased a former lumberyard has plenty of room to grow his operation.
Brenton Baudoux, owner of Scotia Plumbing, purchased the former Proudfoots retail and lumber location in December and now plans to take full advantage of its space.
“I bought the property because it kept dropping in price,” he said. “All I really needed was this building so everything else is just a benefit. Now it is just a matter of what to do with them to bring in some revenue to cover the costs.”
There are four buildings on the large lot located on the outskirts of the Town of Stellarton. In the main building, which once housed Proudfoots’ retail store, he plans to keep his own office in one section and renovate the rest of the main level so it can be rented out to businesses as retail and office space.
“My house is for sale so when my house sells, we are going to renovate the top of this building and make it into our home,” he said, adding the basement will be used for storage of smaller vehicles like motorcycles.
Baudoux said the larger buildings will be used for storage of large vehicles such as campers, boats and cars.
Overall, he said, the buildings are in need of some repairs, but it’s something he will work on over time, aiming to have the storage areas ready next winter.
“One day at a time, slow and easy,” he said.
Baudoux, who has owned Scotia Plumbing since 2012, said the Stellarton location also provides enough room for his own company’s equipment as well as letting him rent out space to interested business owners.
He currently employs six people, but last summer his workforce grew to 11.
In addition to plumbing, his company also offers carpentry, painting, single axle trucking and mini excavator work as well as some snow plowing services. The company also recently purchased a tire changer and balancer hoist.