WEST PITTSTON — The former CVS building on the corner of Boston Avenue and Fourth Street will soon be the home of a new business focused on improving the homes within the Greater Pittston community and beyond.
Driscoll’s Home Center, owned by Liz and Dennis Driscoll of Pittston, will open within the next few weeks, but the residents nearby have already visited the store to wish the couple well.
“We just put the sign up (Thursday) and people are already coming in,” said Liz, 51. “There’s excitement in the community with people walking through the door, interested.”
The store will sell merchandise such as hardware, tools, plumbing supplies, lawn equipment, seasonal items such as heaters and snowblowers, Valspar paint and more. Other offerings include children’s toys, a “dollar aisle,” housewares and small appliances like toaster ovens and coffeemakers.
“We’ve always been interested in this building,” said Dennis, 52.
CVS Pharmacy relocated to the intersection of Tunkhannock and Wyoming avenues the mid-2000s and the former location has been vacant ever since.
According to a 2007 Times Leader report, the store is part of a parcel with the now-demolished Stackhouse Auto building that was located across the street. The building’s former owners had been working with the Rite-Aid Corporation to tear down and rebuild on the site, including plans to add green space, but those plans never came to fruition.
Liz said the former Stackhouse site is indeed part of the property, but there are no concrete plans for its use at this time. She said the large parking area on the Boston Avenue side of the building will eventually house an outdoor lawn and garden center.
Liz said she expects customers to be satisfied with the store’s prices, ensuring the business will stay competitive with other home improvement centers near and far.
“We did a lot of research on opening a business in general,” said Dennis. The family owned an auto repair shop over a decade ago when they lived in New York. They moved to Pittston around the same time and began to search for a new business opportunity.
Dennis said he had researched several different business ventures including franchises, but said he wanted to be sure the market he chose was something he knew and enjoyed.
“I stopped and thought, ‘What is my passion?’ Because you don’t want to dive into a business unless it’s your passion,” he said. “I’ve been working home improvement jobs since I was very young.”
The family started working on the store in the summer. And it’s truly been a family effort.
Liz said each of the couple’s four children has helped out, as well as Dennis’ brother, Danny, whom Dennis dubbed the “honorary CEO” of the business.
“He’s very special to us,” said Liz.
The Driscoll family includes Matthew, 24; Brittany, 23; Sarah, 20; and Cindy, 17.
An exact grand opening date will be set “within the next few days,” said Dennis.
