Chamber welcomes two more businesses

By Elna Seabrooks
Staff writer
    The Greater Houlton business community grew by two last week as Chamber of Commerce staff and board members celebrated ribbon-cutting ceremonies for a pair of new entrepreneurial ventures.
Shiretown Video Variety
Pioneer Times photograph/Elna Seabrooks
NEW VIDEO STORE — Houlton’s Chamber of Commerce welcomed Shiretown Video Variety to Market Square Friday. On hand for the ribbon cutting were, from left: Galen Wilde, Shiretown Coins and chamber member; Paul Cleary, Houlton Town Council; Steve Rogers, Shiretown Video Variety owner; Wendy Boles, co-owner; Sarah Rogers, employee; Lori Weston, Greater Houlton Chamber of Commerce;  Chamber Director Debbie Henderson and granddaughter Kaitlynn Bragg; and Karen Fitzpatrick, Daniel’s Florist and chamber board member.
    “It’s good to see somebody open downtown past five o’clock,” said Houlton Town Council Chairman Paul Cleary at Friday’s ribbon cutting for Shiretown Video Variety. “A lot of businesses usually want to go on the north road. To have somebody want to come downtown and be in business here is perfect.”
    “My hours are Monday through Friday seven in the morning until nine at night. And Saturday and Sunday, I’m open from eight in the morning until nine at night,” said owner Steve Rogers who relocated his business seven weeks ago to 41 Market Square from Smyrna Street.
    The business’ extended hours were also welcomed by Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Lori Weston. “Steve is just supplying things that the general populace down here need. There are apartments up over the retail stores so these folks can now come and get things they need after normal store hours down here.”
    Steve Rogers says he always has good, fresh coffee ready and plenty of snacks along with emergency items for customers perusing the 5,000 video titles he owns which include older movies, video games, and a constant supply of new titles each week.
    In addition to DVD and video rentals, Rogers says he can repair just about any video or disc. “It’s good because people are paying $60 for a video game and they don’t want to throw it away if it gets a scratch on it. So I can fix it for $5.”
    For old movie buffs he has 175 John Wayne movies as well as Oscar-winning classics like “Gone with the Wind” and “Doctor Zhivago.” Rogers also sells NASCAR and John Deere collectibles. “The response has been tremendous. Video repair is going really good and the rentals are also going good. I’m the only one around who repairs videos.”
    Weston said, “It is a great business opportunity for Steve and we wish him the best of luck.” The Chamber says its role is to support business openings and the retention of businesses. “We offer avenues of advertisement like ribbon cuttings, we do a quarterly newsletter that affords them an opportunity to put flyers in. We are event driven so our events are also sponsored by some of these businesses which in turn gives them a chance for advertisement.”
Florence Avenue Redemption Center
Pioneer Times photograph/Elna Seabrooks
REDEMPTION CENTER OPENS — Visitors to conveniently-located Florence Avenue Redemption near the Pine Tree Waste transfer station will find a well-lit, clean place to turn in empty bottles and cans. Chamber of Commerce Board Member Debbie Henderson holds granddaughter Kaitlynn Bragg for the ribbon cutting on Friday as Chamber Executive Director Lori Weston and Houlton Town Council Chairman Paul Cleary, far right, welcome managers Kent and Barrett Good.
    Just before another ribbon cutting that day, Cleary and Weston remarked at the Florence Avenue Redemption Center, operated by Kent Good and his son Barrett, that it was remarkably clean.
    “I’m trying to provide a quality facility for people to come to redeem their bottles so they can be comfortable when they come in. I want them to be at ease when they come in here,” said the elder Good.
    His son, Barrett added, “There’s plenty of room for customers in the yard and right on the way to the transfer station is a great place.” Debbie Henderson, a Chamber board member, was on hand with granddaughter Kaitlynn Bragg, to support the new business and said, “It’s very clean, it smells good and makes you want to come back.”
    The redemption center is open Monday through Friday from 7am to 5 pm and on Saturdays from 7am to 3pm. “It’s right on the way to the transfer station and they can redeem their bottles and get rid of their trash all on the same street,” said Kent Good.
    Before the ribbon cutting, Weston added, “It’s a new venture for Kent and it’s something that the town has needed. It’s well organized and people will come back.”