The owner of the former H&B property in Wallaceburg is giving the site some new life.
With the bright blue and green colours highly visible at the Dufferin Avenue and Arnold Street location, Peapod Self Storage has started taking shape.
“There is five buildings going to be on the property altogether and I’m phasing it in,” Tony Reed, the owner of the property and new company, told the Sydenham Current.
“So basically, this will be the first building and as soon as it reaches a certain occupancy, then I’ll order the next building. Then we’ll keep going until it is done.”
Reed has owned the property for two years, and has since went through various steps necessary to sever the land through the Municipality’s planning department. He has gotten the approvals to separate the property where the majority of the H&B buildings are and where the new Pea Pod Storage building has been built.
Reed said the first building is 6,300 square feet and includes 45 units, all in different sizes.
Once operational, every client will have their own key and will have access to the units.
“It’s an adventure, but I think there is a need for it,” Reed said.
“It was a nice fit for the property.”
Basically, anyone who is in need of extra storage would be an ideal client for Peapod Self Storage, Reed said.
“A lot of times now, people that are in apartments or even people that have junk and they want to free up their garage space… motorcycles or even snowmobiles that they want to get out of their garage in order to get back their garage… or people that are moving. There is a need.”
In terms of unit rental prices, Reed said he is still finalizing the costs. He said units will be available to be rented by the month, or on an on-going basis.
An exact opening date has yet to be chosen.
“Ideally the reason I liked it is the proximity to the main road,” he said.
“It’s very noticeable and it is very ‘in your face.’, It’s close and there is a lot of traffic, which I like. For security, the police are going by here all the time, there is tons of traffic, it will be fully lit and it will be fully fenced and gated later. The colours are a little funky too.”
Reed said he does have plans in the works for the location which holds the former H&B buildings.
However, he said he isn’t ready to divulge any details about it yet.
“One thing at a time,” he said.
Reed lives in Chatham and is a real estate broker with Excel Realty. In fact, Reed is the agent looking to find a buyer for the former Liquidation World building and property in downtown Wallaceburg. Read our recent story about this, here.
The former Hillerich and Bradsby facility used to make Louisville Slugger baseball bats, hockey sticks and golf clubs.
It closed back in 2009.
– Photo credit: Aaron Hall
Tony, here’s wishing you the best of luck with your new venture, you’re going to need it. Why would the local hillbillies pay to store their junk when the bylaw office allows them to keep it on their front lawn and the police do nothing about trailers, boats and vehicles stored on the streets/sidewalks for endless periods of time.