THE former Grant's Timber and Hardware site in Wagga Road will be resurrected after being purchased by Albury businessman Trevor Jones.
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The 1.8 hectare property in Lavington has sat idle since 2011 when Mitre 10 shut.
Mr Jones operates Steeline in Union Road with his brother Gavin, but the purchase of the Wagga Road property is unrelated to the steel supplies business.
The Trevor Jones Family Trust bought the site from a bank after previously being owned by the Luff family.
They started Lavington Building Supplies in 1966 and re-branded it in 1993 as Grant's Timber and Hardware with Grant Luff as general manager.
Mr Jones, who didn't disclose the purchase price, said future plans for the site would be revealed following further discussions with Albury Council.
But they would include two retail businesses in the former Mitre 10 building facing Wagga Road and future uses for the former truss and frame shed are being explored.
The other vacant land fronting Wagga Road will also be developed in future stages.
Mr Jones exchanged contracts with the former owners in a deal brokered by L.J. Colquhoun Dixon commercial agents.
“The primary reason we are doing this is to diversify for my family,” he said.
The primary reason we are doing this is to diversify for my family.
- Trevor Jones
“My sons Russell and Alex are builders and plumbers.
“It's their future.
“The opportunity is there to do something different with the family in business.”
The former Mitre 10 building is expected to take two to three months to bring up to an acceptable standard to occupy after it was the target of vandalism several times recently.
Steeline was started in Union Road by the Jones brothers in 1986 and has grown to include outlets in Wagga, Bathurst, Shepparton and Bendigo.
The company employs a total of 89 people including 55 in Albury.
The brothers also own Corowa Plumbing Supplies.
The former Mitre 10 site was never offered for sale at auction.
Agent Andrew Dixon said it was another boost for the Lavington area.
“There is no doubting Wagga Road is certainly on the improve from an investment point of view,” he told The Border Mail.
It comes almost 12 months since German supermarket chain Aldi first opened its doors in the former WOW building.
