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Saturday, November 21, 2009
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Heating up the area market
Senior Reporter BAXTER - A business born in Aitkin is expanding to Baxter where work continues on a showroom of fireplaces.
On a recent gloomy weekday, the rooms full of flickering flames provided a sharp contrast to the weather.
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About 43 units - fireplaces and stoves - are anticipated to be on display from traditional looks with real or cultured rock exteriors to ultra modern gas fireplaces in the Up North Fireplace Gallery in Baxter. Brainerd Dispatch/Renee Richardson
» Purchase reprints of this photo.
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Business owners Greg and Cathie Pearson of Aitkin are creating their second, larger showroom off Dellwood Drive in Baxter next to the Floor to Ceiling store.
About 43 units - fireplaces and stoves - are anticipated to be on display, from traditional looks with real or cultured rock exteriors to ultra modern gas fireplaces where the blue gas flame extends on a long horizontal line in a black surround.
Up North Fireplace Gallery has wood burning stoves and fireplaces, those that work with pellets and with gas.
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About 43 units - fireplaces and stoves - are anticipated to be on display from traditional looks with real or cultured rock exteriors to ultra modern gas fireplaces in the Up North Fireplace Gallery in Baxter. Brainerd Dispatch/Renee Richardson
» Purchase reprints of this photo.
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There are marble fireplace surrounds, wood-burning inserts that set into masonry fireplaces and gas inserts to reform aging and perhaps inefficient, older wood-burning fireplaces.
Pearson noted the realistic look of faux logs and the flames the gas fireplaces now provide, along with the heating option. He's had other clients install higher efficiency wood-burning fireplaces as a way to reduce their energy bills.
The Pearsons' Aitkin store has been in business since 2006. They employ 10 and expect that number to grow.
Greg Pearson said the brands they sell, Heat&Glo, Quadra-Fire, Heatilator and the Harman pellet stove, weren't represented in the area.
"So we had an opportunity to expand," he said.
The Aitkin business was already selling units here, but Pearson said the distance was a challenge in terms of getting people to the showroom. "You just have to be closer to serve the market."
In addition to the fireplaces and stoves, the business sells mantles, such as natural rock and red and white cedar. The showroom includes vignette settings where customers can see the fireplaces in a den, bedroom, bathroom or living area.
The fireplaces roughly range in price from $1,200 to more than $6,000. Pearson said he wants customers to know the fireplaces are affordable for a wide range of households.
The business provides installation and maintenance. Even with the construction downturn, Pearson said people are still building and others are remodeling what they have, including the addition of fireplaces and stoves.
And as for the future, Pearson said "it's going to rebound."
RENEE RICHARDSON, senior reporter, may be reached at renee.richardson@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5852.
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