For many people, Eastern Engines is the place they turn to, whether they are looking for new equipment or need parts or repairs to equipment they currently own. Tinkess Photo
WILLIAMSBURG – As roads go, County Road 31is fairly unassuming. It is two lanes, heading north to the Nation’s Capital, south to the St. Lawrence River and Morrisburg. In between those two points it passes through several small communities, one of which is Williamsburg, the home of Eastern Engines Power Equipment.
Eastern Engines has been a part of the landscape since 1985 and was originally located in the Pinkus building (now Jay’s Tire and Automotive), a bit farther south, but moved to its current location in 1989. Founded by Wim and Alie Berghuis, the business has been owned and managed since December 2018 by Daniel and Sara Van Gilst.
For many people in the area, if they have a problem that involves outdoor power equipment, then Eastern Engines is the solution. They are a factory authorized full-service Stihl, Husqvarna, and Toro dealership.
If you somehow managed to miss the equipment parked out front, (snowblowers in fall and winter, lawn tractors and mowers in the spring and summer) there is no mistaking the purpose of the business when you walk inside. They have just about anything you would ever need for lawn and garden maintenance (both human controlled and robotic), chainsaws from the smallest battery operated to the extremely powerful gas powered and all the essential safety equipment. And if it’s parts or service you desire, then you’ve come to the right place.
Like most small businesses during the Pandemic, Eastern Engines felt the effect of supply chain issues experienced by the manufacturers of the products they sell. Today, Daniel Van Gilst says things have improved. “It is getting better. It’s not quite all the way back, some suppliers are better than others, but overall, it is definitely much better.”
Van Gilst spoke about some of the changes he has seen in consumer demand. He says there is an increasingly strong interest in the battery powered yard tools. “Things like the string trimmers, chainsaws, that kind of stuff, leaf blowers, there’s incredible demand for that.”
For many, equipment that runs on gas and oil isn’t something they have a lot of interest in. “The gas-powered push mower market is all but dead,” says Van Gilst. “It seems most people with a smaller lot, they’re looking for battery powered tools, just for the sheer convenience of it.”
One thing that won’t change is location: Van Gilst has no intention of leaving Williamsburg. “I would like to expand at some point,” he said. “We need to stay in Williamsburg though, I don’t think we could have a better location for this business.”
Eastern Engines is located at 4301 County Road 31 in Williamsburg. They are open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. and Saturday from 8:00 a.m. until noon. You can reach them by phone at 613-535-2488 or through their website at easternengines.com.
If you would like to have a light shined on your business, please contact us at: editor@etceterapublications.ca or call us at 613-448-2321.
Terry Tinkess is a professional photographer, educator and journalist. He has been making a living with a camera and keyboard since 1999 and has been featured in such publications as The Ottawa Citizen, Cornwall Standard Freeholder, The Globe and Mail, The Miami Herald, Ottawa Construction News, The Ontario Construction Report, Ontario Home Builder Magazine, Reed Construction Data, Canadian Potato Business and most recently, The Record and Eastern Ontario AgriNews. Terry lives in Ingleside, Ontario with his wife Brenda, Mia the anxious Pittie and cats Wally and Chubbers.
