New owners
From left, new owners Pierre Seguin and Mark Begg with departing owners Claude and Simone Quesnel in front of the Crysler Home Hardware.
Courtesy photo
Michelle O’Donohue
Record Contributor
CRYSLER – Today, on Wed., Aug. 9, the ownership at Crysler’s Home Hardware will be changing hands. Mark Begg and Pierre Seguin have purchased the store, and are embarking on this new business venture together. Begg and Seguin work together at Delaney Bus Lines in Avonmore. Both men will continue in their positions with Delaney in addition to this new endeavor with Home Hardware.
Buying the hardware store holds special significance for Begg, as the store was previously in his family for 50 years. He explained that his great-grandfather Stewart Begg purchased the building in 1924. At the time, it was operating as a sash a door factory. After buying the store, he made the move into building supplies, and eventually joined the Home Hardware franchise in 1965.
Begg’s great-grandfather, then grandfather, ran the store for 50 years, until the family sold the business in 1974. The Begg family sold to Claude and Simone Quesnel, who have been operating the Home Hardware since.
Although the store was sold before Begg was born, he grew up listening to stories about the shop. Begg said that he has always wanted to buy the store and bring it back into the family.
Begg advised that following the handover in August, a re-merchandising of the store will take place. Once this has been completed, a grand reopening will be planned to celebrate. This celebration is expected for late fall 2017. The store will remain open throughout the re-merchandising process.
When asked how his family reacted to the news that the business would be back in the family, Begg said they were all very excited. He noted that his father, who has been retired for over 10 years will “don a red shirt once again to help us get started.”
