A local swimming pool business is moving into the former Hart’s Hardware building.
Bilal Altintoprak of Southold purchased the property this month and is relocating his pool company, L.I. Pool Care, from its present quarters on Route 48 in Peconic.
Altintoprak, who established his business on the North Fork in 2006 and has been in the pool business since 1990, said he’s very happy with the new Main Road location.
“I was renting where I was and I’m glad to own my building,” he said today.
He and his crew are cleaning up and getting the 1,200-square-foot storefront portion of the main building ready for inventory, which will begin arriving in a week or so. Altintoprak said he expects to be open for business there by the end of next month.
In addition to the retail showroom, the building has a small office Altintoprak will use. He plans to use an additional 2,000-square-foot section of the building for a separate commercial use, possibly a laundromat.
L.I. Pool Care installs and maintains swimming pools and hot tubs as well as pumps, filters, covers and liners. It also makes repairs to pool equipment and liners. The retail store will be stocked with parts and supplies, pool chemicals, pumps, filters and all kinds of pool floats, toys and accessories, Altintoprak said.
“We do it all, soup to nuts,” he said.
Altintoprak is the father of three children and works with his brother and two nephews.
“It’s a family business,” he said. L.I. Pool Care has six year-round, full-time employees. Its work force expands to between 14 and 18 people in the summer.
Hart’s Hardware occupied the site for more than 50 years. The closing took place on Dec. 1.
“We’re very excited,” Altintoprak said. “I can’t wait till we have the showroom designed and stocked.”
