Jason Agren, center, prepares to cut a ribbon that his brother Eric, left, and father, Douglas, right, are holding at Agren Appliance in Saco on Friday.LIZ GOTTHELF/Journal Tribune
The latest, greatest, state-of-the-art products displayed are impressive, but so too are the historic features of the building, built in 1824. The building, known as the Tristan Hooper House, has served as a home, a broom factory, and since 1963, an appliance store.
Agren’s Appliance is Maine’s largest family-owned, independent appliance and mattress retailer and was founded in 1969 by Douglas Agren. In addition to the Saco store, the company has locations in Auburn, Norway, Topsham and South Portland.
The Agren family added the Saco store to its list of locations in 2016, when it purchased the store from the Fleurant family, which had run Vic’s Appliance from the location since 1963.
Agren’s Appliance held a reopening ceremony Friday acknowledging the completion of a recent renovation project which had the store temporarily moved down the street.
Jason Agren said when they acquired the Saco store, they inherited a lot of good employees. He said they kept on most of the former employees, and Don Fleurant, former owner of Vic’s Appliance, works at the store.
“It was really important to keep the local employees, and keep the commitment to the community, because Vic’s has been such a huge part of this community,” said Agren. He said his family likes to support the communities their stores are part of, and announced the company was donating a new refrigerator to Esther Residence, a local transitional house for women leaving incarceration.
Agren said a major goal of the renovation was to bring back the historical aspects of the building.
Mayor Ron Michaud said the city was happy to have Agren’s Appliance as part of the community and told people at Friday’s event to encourage their friends and neighbors to come see the remodeled building, which features exposed stonework and a former pulley lift system on the second floor that has been preserved.
“The renovation is a sight that needs to be seen to be appreciated,” he said.
Saco Main Street Executive Director Rob Biggs presented Agren with a community historical preservation award, recognizing efforts to preserve the character of the building and the contributions made to the community at large.
— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 325 or egotthelf@journaltribune.com.
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