RUMFORD – Stephen Avery believes the Rumford area is in a position for significant growth over the next few years. To back up his beliefs, he recently finished sinking a significant amount of cash into what some say is an example of an anticipated resurgence of Congress Street.

Avery, owner of Western Maine Brokerage Services LLC, bought a vacant former shoe store on Congress Street several months ago. He then had the interior gutted and refurbished in soft greens and beige.

Perhaps even more significantly, he had the exterior facade brick faced, complete with a denticulated cornice, constructed a new entrance, closed off a narrow alley, and had bright white trim painted on the wood work.

It’s a total transformation of the building that he said fits with many of the downtown’s historic buildings.

“There’s nothing left from the past but the foundation,” he said of the revitalized building.

Construction work was done by local contractors, and town officials were helpful with his plan, he said.

“I’m looking down the road and see significant growth. I want to position myself with a strong professional image,” he said, in hopes that others may do something similar to their storefronts.

Avery, from New Hampshire, isn’t new to town. He bought Western Maine Brokerage in January 2003. The business had used rented space at 19 Congress St.

Avery then began to think about investing more by buying a building and other property.

Besides the office building at 75 Congress St., he also owns the lot one building up Congress Street that until a major fire a couple of years ago was the site of Wardwells. He’s turning that vacant but landscaped lot into a parking area for his clients. He’d like to expand his business when the opportunity comes.

He has been in the investment and security business for 26 years. He alternates his time between the new Rumford office and his long-time office, Lennox Capital LLC in Concord.

His Rumford business is two-pronged – the securities and investment business and a health and life insurance business managed by Janet Rowley. Four full-time people work out of the Congress Street office. Avery also supervises 35 securities representatives from throughout New England.

Avery also believes his business is another part of Rumford’s transition to that of a service community.

“Over time, we’ll see more and more law, investment and insurance offices. I believe Rumford will be the financial district of western Maine,” he said.

He chose Rumford because of its people and the natural resources available for fishing, bicycling and other outdoor activities.

“People have strong morals up here, and there is an established client base. Eventually, I will own a second home here,” he said.

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