The Tribune

Freeport-based Paint Fair has moved into its newly-refurbished 8,000 square foot location some five years after its previous home suffered 10 feet of flooding in Hurricane Dorian.

The new Bellevue Lane site, just off Queen’s Highway, features ample customer parking and a store showcasing multiple paint brands and equipment, the latest colour and design trends, and newly-added categories such as wallpaper and speciality flooring.

Keystone Construction team was responsible for the design and build-out. Lesley Davies-Baptista, Paint Fair’s president, said: “The journey to the new facility was a challenging one. Enduring and recovering from Dorian, having to rent a place to get back up and running after the storm and then COVID … it has been crazy to say the least.”

The 2019 storm caused severe flooding up to 10-feet high in Paint Fair’s location on West Settler’s Way - a location built by Ms Davies-Baptista’s late mother, Joan Davies, who co-founded the retailer with Colin Davies in 1980.

After securing a rental spot on West Settler’s Way, Paint Fair re-opened just weeks after Hurricane Dorian. During the COVID-19 pandemic, it initiated and ran an online order and curbside pick-up service enabling customers to carry out much-needed repairs to homes damaged by the storm.

“But here we are today, grateful to be home. Even though it is a new home, it already feels right,” Ms Davies-Baptista added. “We’ve got new products, new lines, new technology and it’s just a great space. So we are excited for our customers to come visit this store.”

The new Paint Fair location features more varieties of interior and exterior paints, floor coatings and tools from its international suppliers, including PPG Paint, International Paint, ALLPRO, Graco, Florida Paint, Acrylabs Roof Systems, Sherwin Williams, Master Wall, Infinity Paint Company, Lancaster Company and Saman Stain Company.

“We are proud to have some of our products here at Paint Fair,” said Florida Paint’s Tom Griffey. “We have floor coatings, interior and exterior products.”

Businesswoman Angela Toothe added: “I fancy myself an amateur interior designer, so what I see here is great. I’ve already started a mental list of products I want to purchase to decorate for Thanksgiving and Christmas.”

“We are so excited to announce that we can finally resume our colour shows, which have always been a great way to bring in the holiday season with colour and design inspiration,” said Ms Davies-Baptista.

PPG Paint’s colour and design team will host an architect, designer and contractor show on Tuesday, October 29, and the DIY and residential show on Wednesday, October 30. “Space is limited,” said Tim Neuner, of PPG Paint. “We have a wonderful show planned to welcome everyone to this new space, so be sure to follow Paint Fair’s Facebook and Instagram to secure your space.”