Plans under way for pet supplies store at Mill Hall building

MILL HALL — This spring, a long-vacant building will come alive again with a pet and feed store and other business opportunities.

Developers Ernie and Nancy Renninger and semi-retired veterinarian Dr. Robert H. and Sandy Reese recently purchased the 42,000-square-foot, former Renninger Home Center, just west of the Hogan Boulevard commercial strip.

Ernie, son of Monroe Renninger, founder of the original Renninger Lumber Co., said the closing on the property at 2967 Eagle Valley Road occurred Jan. 12.

The Clinton County Register and Recorder’s Office listed the transaction from Donald and Carol Renninger, Gloria Long, Susan and Richard McKinney and Michael and Tracy Renninger to Reese-Renninger LLC for The owners plan to use 20,000 square feet to open “Calico Creek,” a premium Purina pet and pet food store in May, with a grand opening planned for the end of June, Ernie said.

The Clinton County commissioners approved a $250,000 loan for the purchase of the site and for renovations this past week.

A sign on the outside of the building states, “Calico Creek Feed and Pet Store” will open May 7.

Work on the inside of the building is underway, with many trucks found in front of the site Monday afternoon.

“We did a little research and felt there was a need in that area for that business,” Renninger said. “It will be like a Pet Smart or a Petco, but we will do a few things differently. We will have bathing and grooming areas for the pets and a self-serve area where people can bathe their own pets.”

Ernie said Dr. Reese, a “semi-retired” veterinarian at Susque Valley Animal Hospital in McElhattan, would offer vet services at the business.

Dr. Reese established his veterinary practice in the Lock Haven area in 1960. Initially a veterinarian who treated both large and small animals, he later specialized in companion animals.

Renninger said the new store will sell different types of pets, including birds, ferrets and guinea pigs. However, when it comes to cats and dogs, the store will work directly with the Clinton County SPCA.

“And there will be food and supplies for every animal, a lot of seminars to train people how to train their animals ... It will have everything and everything to do with animals,” he said. “Our store will be like the Woolrich Store, a destination place. People will go not because where it’s at but because what it is.”

The building has been largely vacant and for sale since it closed in the fall of 2004. Ernie called it the only space available near the boulevard at a reasonable price.

“The closer you get to the boulevard, the price goes up,” he said. “It’s still a good location ... 9,200 cars per day pass that area. It’s not the 16,000 or 17,000 on the boulevard, but it’s still a lot of traffic.”

Ernie said Laubscher Pools & Spas at 2965 Eagle Valley Road, Mill Hall, will continue to occupy 4,000 square feet of the building, leaving about 3,000 square feet for office space and 18,000 of retail space for rent.

“We have no firm tenants for those two spaces, but we are working on it,” he said.

Renninger Lumber Co. closed in late 2004 after nearly 70 years in business. It was started by Monroe Renninger with one sawmill in 1938.

It opened the store in Mill Hall after the 1972 Agnes flood.

Monroe’s sons, Don and Mike, and daughters, Gloria Long and Sue McKinney, took over when Monroe died in 1983.

Ernie was not involved with ownership of the hardware store, but started a separate cabinetry business, Renninger’s Cabinetree, in 1986.

That store, just outside of Salona, designs and constructs cabinetry for both residential and commercial applications.

Renninger Lumber’s had a 31-year relationship with True Value before becoming affiliated with ACE Hardware two years before its closing.

There was a time when people could buy just about anything from Renninger’s, from stocked and special order lumber and other building materials to a complete line of electrical, automotive and plumbing supplies. It also carried an extensive line of clothing and boots, fishing and hunting items, craft supplies, toys and lawn care equipment.

The building was razed by fire in 1986, but rose back from the ashes with a larger store to serve the public for another decade before closing.

Source: www.sungazette.com