Ability Services Inc. consumers, staff and board members celebrated an announcement Thursday that the agency will soon move from its Concord Road location to 2109 Indianapolis Road.
The new site most recently housed an auction house, but most people know it as the former Elks Lodge on S.R. 32 East.
The announcement, which included cookies and punch, brought a cheer from those in attendance. ASI Executive Director Michelle Smith said the move has been a long time in the making.
“This is something that is needed,” Smith said. “The idea to move was actually started about seven years ago. This building was built to build pallets. We are ready to move into a more modern building and we are excited about what we will be able to do.”
Smith said the square footage is close to what they have now, but having 15 additional acres will serve consumers in exciting ways that it is not available now.
“Having 15 acres is an amazing deal. Our programming will probably double,” Smith said.
During the announcement, Smith told consumers to start thinking about what they would like to see happen at the new facility. She mentioned activities such as pickleball and basketball and even dances on the new building’s dance floor.
ASI Board President Norm Reimondo said plans to purchase the new facility started in earnest two years ago. He said the new location will have many benefits that come along with it.
“We will get a lot more visibility in the community,” Reimondo said. “Consumers will be more willing to come in because the building looks a lot more inviting.”
Reimondo credits the ASI staff for the work they do, which leads to success.
“The staff is absolutely amazing,” Reimondo said. “They handle our consumers with great care and none of our consumers leave unhappy.”
Danny Newlin has been a consumer since 1996 after graduating from North Montgomery High School. His mother, Denise Stonebraker, is happy for the upcoming move and believes it will serve the consumers better as have all the changes through the years.
“There have been a lot of changes at ASI and they all have been good,” Stonebraker said. “ASI has helped Danny live a more fulfilling life. This move will help ASI offer even more things now and I am happy for the consumers and staff.”
Smith said ASI should close on the new building in approximately three weeks. But, there was a reason to make the announcement before the actual possession.
“We had to rush this announcement,” Smith said. “The rumor was getting around that we were closing. We wanted our consumers to know what was happening.”
Smith also said the Concord Road facility has a pending sale to an undisclosed party and should close by the end of October.
Smith said in late October ASI will have a liquidation sale of items not going to the new facility. Sale items will be bought for donations.
