RUMFORD – Western Maine Brokerage Services is going ahead with plans to move into the former Gaccetta Shoe Store on Congress Street.

Janet Rowley, a spokeswoman for Steve Avery, owner of the brokerage firm, as well as owner of Lennox Capital LLC, in Concord, N.H., said plans are under way to move from 19 Congress St., where the company shares space with Western Maine Associates, to the former shoe store by April.

With renovations planned for the former retail store, that date could be earlier or later, depending upon contractor’s schedules, she said.

She said Avery hopes to close on the building’s purchase by January. The former shoe store has been vacant for about two years.

Avery also bought the lot on which Wardwell’s was located for many years, at the corner of Congress and Exchange streets. Rowley said the lot, vacant since the building burned and was torn down about 18 months ago, will be used for parking. Selectmen granted a driveway permit for the lot in October.

Meanwhile, Eugene Davis, owner of the 19 Congress St. building, received a $50,000, low-interest loan from the town to renovate and build an addition onto the building.

He plans to construct a 400-square-foot addition onto the rear of the building, bringing it almost to the sidewalk on River Street. Other plans include refacing the Congress Street front of the building and remodeling the interior.

Other changes planned for the downtown area include a new chiropractic office run by Dr. Angella L. Roberts on Exchange Street at a site once occupied by a dental office. Roberts plans an early January opening.

eadams@sunjournal.com

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