Ben’s Trading Post’s owner comes ‘full circle’

11 years ago

Ben’s Trading Post’s owner

comes ‘full circle’

By Kathy McCarty
Staff Writer

    PRESQUE ISLE — Ben LeBlanc, owner of Ben’s Trading Post, can say his career has taken him full circle, having worked for Roy’s Army and Navy — a sporting goods store once located at 710 Main St. — and now he’s back across the street, after purchasing the building at 719 Main St.

Staff photo/Kathy McCarty

    ROD JANDREAU picked up his new gun, a Benelli Nova 12 gauge, just in time for his first season of bird hunting during a recent visit to Ben’s Trading Post, at its new location at 719 Main St. in Presque Isle. Pictured from left are Jandreau, of St. Francis, and Neil Burnham, of Ben’s Trading Post. Ben’s is fully stocked for all your hunting and fishing needs — year-round.

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    BEN’S TRADING POST now calls 719 Main St. in Presque Isle home. Open since Aug. 28 at the new location, the facility carries all the supplies needed to make your fishing, hunting or camping trip a success.

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    LeBlanc has moved several times since first opening his doors; starting with a store at the intersection of Chapman Road and Riverside Drive, he moved for a time to the intersection of Main and Park streets, and most recently rented a building at the intersection of the Connector and Parsons roads.
    “I had been renting for years, then the building came up for sale and I thought it was time to own my own place,” said LeBlanc. “We’ve been in our new location since Aug. 28. We have 3,000 square feet of store space, with plans to use the basement for something in the future.”
    The store is located across from the Irish Setter Pub and next to Bonanza.
    Those plans will give local and visiting archers something to do year-round, according to LeBlanc.
    “We’re looking forward to putting in an indoor archery range downstairs. My son, Ben II, went to archery school in New York and is now a certified compound bow technician.”
    LeBlanc said it will give sporting enthusiasts something to do, regardless of weather.
    “Folks go out hunting — plan to be here sometimes a week or two during hunting season. But once they’ve got something, they’re left with time on their hands but nothing to do. This will provide them an opportunity to do something fun, no matter the weather,” he said.
    The store features everything a hunter or fisherperson could want and more. From shoes and clothing for men, women and children, to all the hunting and fishing supplies and accessories a person could want, Ben’s has it all. And if they don’t have what you’re looking for, staff can place an order for you.
    “We don’t just sell supplies, we sell what works,” said LeBlanc. “We have two certified AR Armors on hand, Ben II and Neil Burnham.”
    The business employs four full-time and one part-time person. The store is authorized to sell hunting and fishing licenses.
    “We’re also a registered game station and are set up to weigh animals,” said LeBlanc. “Our hours are seasonal right now, with hunting season in full swing: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; and Saturday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.”
    Burnham said customers have made a lot of positive comments since they’ve moved.
    “We bring a lot of business to the city. Hunters buy gas, food, shop and need lodging. We bring a lot of revenue to town,” said Burnham.
    Burnham noted the rustic features of the building are well-suited for the kind of business they have.
    “It looks more like a trading post. We have the look now,” said Burnham.
    LeBlanc said the new facility also has a bigger parking area than past locations had.
    The store has been busy since opening in August, with many happy customers checking out the new locale.
    “This will be my first season of duck hunting. I live off the river in St. Francis — geese fly by my house. I bought a Benelli Nova 12 gauge to try a little bird hunting this fall,” said Rod Jandreau.
    An experienced hunter, Jandreau said he’s hunted game from Maine to Montana.
    “I hunt deer. I’ve been drawn for the moose hunt and got a bull one year. I’ve hunted in Montana, down south,” Jandreau said.
    As a customer, Jandreau said he likes Ben’s new site.
    “Location is everything. This site’s great,” said Jandreau. “It’s easy to find, with great parking and the building — inside and out — suits the products sold.”
    For more information, visit www.benstradingpost.com or call 768-3181.