Page 16 - July-August 2025 REPORTER - optimized

Sutton Home

Building Centre's GRAND REOPENING

he relief was noticeable among the staff make room for the new store area which has could not just cut a ribbon to signify the
Tat Schell Lumber Home Building Centre high ceilings, a new entrance and service store opening. They chose instead to cut
Wednesday, June 18th. They could finally area. a log to mark the opening. At first, fourth
celebrate with customers and dignitaries The challenging task for the staff was to generation owner Kyle Schell started
the accomplishment of renovating and get the new space ready while still servicing with a chain saw, then Steve Schell (third
rebuilding a store while they continued to customers. They worked for six months in generation) worked the two-man crosscut
be open. Grand Reopening weekend was the new area, putting up new displays and saw with Simon Kennedy (store manager) to
the perfect time to celebrate the three years shelving before they had any hydro. It was finally open the renovated store officially.
of planning and one and a half years of merchandised and ready to open over a Customers were able to enjoy a free BBQ and
construction at the store. month before the lights were turned on. baked goods. The Schells had many grand
The store has been owned by the Schell Since it was off limits to customers, staff reopening specials that were offered to the
family for almost 25 years. The late Ron had to go collect items to fill their orders. crowds of people attending.
Schell and his cousin Steve bought the store However, the result of the renovation is Among the officials from Home Hardware
as a fixer upper. Steve describes how the remarkable. Clean, well stocked aisles with Stores were John Pierce (Chief Retail
entire family went in on an Easter weekend beautifully laid out and displayed products, Operations Officer) Grant Allen (Director
24 years ago to clean, dust and organize the designed to allow the customers to get what Retail Operations – central Canada) and Scott
store when they first bought this location. they need for their projects. Smibert (Territory Manager) all attending to
The Schell family was not new to running This store serves the town of Sutton, on support the Schell family. We even had a visit
a lumber and building material store. Their the southern shore of Lake Simcoe. Sutton is from Percy Schell, (second generation Schell)
Stouffville location has been operated by a growing community of 8500 people. Many who at 94 years old still wanted to see what
their family for over 100 years. This was a of the town’s residents commute to work in all the excitement was. He keeps an active
new challenge. The plan always was for the areas like Newmarket and Aurora and having interest in what is happening in the stores
Sutton store to be expanded and updated, a modern well laid out store will keep those and still makes sure that invoicing from
but it took COVID to bring those plans to people shopping local. vendors is done correctly.
the forefront. The newly renovated store The grand reopening celebration was Congratulations to the Schell family
includes a much larger yard, nearly three attended by many vendors, customers, and on the renovations to the Sutton store. I
times larger, with a paved parking lot. The Home Hardware officials. In keeping with know the process was difficult and time
original store was partially torn down to the Schell family 100 year plus history they consuming, but the results are outstanding.

16 LBMAO Reporter - July-August 2025 www.lbmao.on.ca