Sun sets on landmark village business
Posted By MARK TAYTI
This year marks the end of an era for a Wainfleet business that provided backyard comfort to many a local cottage owner in Long Beach and Lowbanks.
The business began unintentionally when Leonard Paul and his neighbour set about the task of building a couple of picnic tables. When they were done, the tables were parked out on Leonard's front yard along Highway 3.
It wasn't long before somebody came along and wanted to buy them.
Andy Paul, Leonard's son, said evidence of his father's work dots the Lake Erie shoreline, although these days Sun Country Leisure Products no longer builds picnic tables and lawn chairs.
Today, it is one of Southern Ontario's largest patio furniture retailers and operations have now been consolidated at the store in St. Catharines on Ontario Street.
After 44 years in business, the sun has finally set on the Wainfleet location where it all began.
"The property sold just before Christmas," Paul said this week. "The new owner has plans for the property."
Paul said the family homestead has been up for sale for more than a year, but the sale came about quickly.
"Our roots are still in Wainfleet," Paul said from the St. Catharines store. "I want to express our gratitude to the people of Wainfleet who supported the store year after year."
Paul said moving operations to one location in St. Catharines just made sense.
"Our market is Niagara and the population is more concentrated in the north," he said.
Given the recent trends, patio furniture is in great demand as more and more people want to spend their time outdoors.
"By concentrating efforts on one store only, we feel we can bring consistently better service, better merchandising and more thoroughly trained staff to better assist customers."
While Leonard is now retired, Andy said he still pokes his head in the door from time to time.
The store is now run by Andy and his wife Debra. Their son Michael has recently made a decision to join the family business.
Sun Country has gone from being a small country-based outdoor furniture manufacturer in 1963 to a major retailer of high-quality patio furniture.
Instead of just picnic tables and wooden chairs, the product line includes patio and casual furniture as well as barbecues and electric fireplaces.
While the store may have moved to the big city, Paul said customers can still expect the same country hospitality they enjoyed in the village.
"Quality products, excellent service and an overall pleasant shopping experience have always been the goals of Sun Country and this will continue and improve at the St. Catharines' store."
mtayti@wellandtribune.ca
