MIDDLEBURY — The UPS Store in Middlebury’s Village Court Plaza next to Aubuchon Hardware will soon relocate to the former Lightning Photo property at 105 Court St., where the growing business will occupy two floors and have access to triple its current space.
Laura Flint, owner of the local UPS Store, confirmed the impending move last week. Property transfer documents on file at the Middlebury town clerk’s office show an Aug. 14 closing on the sale of 105 Court St. for $287,500. The listed sellers are David and Susan Werle and the buyer is shown as Penfield Property Management LLC. It should be noted that 105 Court St. is the largest of two contiguous buildings previously owned by the Werles, who moved Lighting Photo to that location (from The Centre shopping plaza) back in 2002.
The other structure, at 111 Court St., sold on Aug. 14 for $140,000, according to Middlebury property transfer documents. Local businesswoman Maura Breslin identified herself as the new owner of the property.
“I hope to establish a professional office there,” Breslin said of her plans for 111 Court St.
Meanwhile, Flint would like to reopen the UPS Store at 105 Court St. by Nov. 1. The building is currently undergoing some extensive interior renovations, including reconfiguration of walls, new floors, replacement of multiple doors and windows, and painting.
Plans also call for landscaping — including the planting of new bushes and flowers in the front — and possibly repaving of the parking area.
“It’s progressing very well,” Flint said of the renovation work.
Once fully remodeled, the building will give the UPS Store two full floors in which to do business. The store has been operating in just under 1,000 square feet at its spot in then Village Court Plaza, according to Flint.
“It’s pretty tiny,” she said of the location, in which four full- and part-time employees help customers with their mailbox, packing, shipping and professional printing needs. Flint acquired the Middlebury UPS Store around three years ago and has seen business steadily increase. She has been looking around for larger quarters that would allow her to offer customers additional supplies and services.
“We have outgrown our space,” Flint said. “We have had requests to add supplies and equipment, but we haven’t had the room.”
She saw her opportunity, however, when the Lightning Photo property came onto the market. Both 105 and 111 Court St. were listed for a foreclosure auction back on June 12. Flint and Breslin were among the interested bidders.
A local resident earlier this year had pitched the former Lightning photo property as a potential site for a new municipal building. Middlebury voters endorsed a plan to built the new town offices at 77 Main St.
Flint said the first floor of the new UPS Store location will house the packaging and receiving functions, along with moving supplies. The second floor merchandise will include printing and office supplies. She hopes to acquire a wide-format scanner to reproduce posters and blueprints. Plans call for the UPS Store to ramp up to six workers while doubling the number of cash registers to reduce customers’ waiting time, according to Flint.
Reporter John Flowers is at [email protected].