Another vacant St. Michael building has made for friendly confines to a new owner in this community, though on a much quieter level.
The former Holiday/Oasis Market station on Central Avenue in St. Michael, located just west of the Colonial Mall, is now home to Vetsch Plumbing and Magic Water after Bill and Pat Vetsch took on the new facility in January.
The conversion was a perfect fit after some negotiating with the St. Michael City Council and the city’s planning commission – the Vetsch family converted the former car wash and convenience store into a plumbing showroom and service center. The car wash bay now holds Vetsch Plumbing’s service vehicles, while the converted C-store now has show space for water softeners, water filtration systems and other Vetsch/Magic Water products.
“It’s really and open concept that allows us to show the selection of product we have,” Dan Vetsch, Bill’s son, said. “And there’s more storage for everything.”
Dan, Bill and the staff flipped the building in about 10 weeks. That was a task, Bill said, after the store sat empty for nearly six years.
“Some people had other plans for it, but it fit our needs perfectly,” Pat said. “It didn’t take long to spruce it up.”
Vetsch has been in existence since last century, when Bill struck out on his own after more than two decades, already, in the trade. He acquired Magic Water in 2002, making the business multifaceted. Vetsch Plumbing handles the service side of the industry, while Magic Water installs softeners and drinking systems, as well as salt deliver and water deliver. They moved in the Zahler Building back in 2003, but decided to head a bit east, along Highway 241, after yet another construction project in downtown St. Michael last year.
“I think we had at least two to three years of construction in front of that building and then along side of it,” Bill, a (nearly) lifelong resident of St. Michael, said. “But we pulled through. We have a lot of great relationships in the community. I probably grew up with half of our customer base.”
Bill’s not shy about tackling any job – toilet repair, leaky pipes, water heaters and faucets, as well as remodels big and small.
“We’re seeing a lot of people finish off basements or remodel an existing bathroom. Kitchen updates are really popular. People are sinking some money into the spot where they are, getting comfortable and trying to place more value in the home. It’s a bit of a change from all the new construction we had a few years ago, but it’s good, too. People want to settle in,” Bill said.
For more information about Vetsch Plumbing and Magic Water, now located at 398 Central Avenue E. in St. Michael, visit them online, or call 763-497-9733. Vetsch/Magic Water is now on Facebook, too, where you can check out their line of services.