At this time last year, Jeffrey Chalfant was getting ready to begin his senior year at Bridgeport High School. Now, the teenager is taking some of the lessons he learned in his final year at the school on Johnson Avenue and applying them in a big kind of way.

 

Chalfant, just 18 years old and a 2018 graduate of BHS, is now the sole owner of the Vincent Lumber Company located in Shinnston. The young man is eager to get started on what he hopes is a long and successful career.

 

If the name sounds familiar, it should. Vincent Lumber has been a part of the business community for the last 83 years and the business was purchased from the most recent owners of it – Louis and Diane (Vincent) Smith. The business is located on the same parcel that the former Shinnston Dairy Queen was situated on for decades.

 

“My father (Jeff) is a block layer and has built many of (the Smith’s) homes and that is how he knows them. He actually called them about the possibility of opening a restaurant,” said Chalfant. “He called them to see if the building was for sale and we found out that it was, but it had to be purchased with this as well. That’s how I got involved and that’s where we’re at with the focus on Vincent Lumber.”

 

Eventually, Chalfant said the plan is to utilize the Dairy Queen building. For now, however, making the ownership transition at Vincent Lumber is top priority.

 

His family (father Jeff and mother Michele) has been key in not only helping with the acquisition, but in steering Chalfant into the business direction. Chalfant said he occasionally worked with his father in the masonry business and, although he like the business aspect of what his father did, he didn’t necessarily enjoy it. That led him to consider traveling down another business route.

 

“I knew I didn’t want to do that, but I always had a desire to be involved with retail and the restaurant business,” he said. “This is what I want to do, but I am a little bit nervous about everything that has to be done as you take it over. At the same time, I’m confident I’ll make this work.”

 

The good news is that the nerves have been – and will continue to be – calmed by what he learned at Bridgeport High School. And in particularly, he’s confident about what he’s starting thanks to what he learned in Trina Runner’s classes at BHS.

 

“Every business class that was offered with Trina Runner I took,” said Chalfant. “I loved her classes and business itself and when I was in there I just wanted to learn and did learn. She was an inspiration and she doesn’t even know about this.

 

“She is encouraging about anything anyone wants to do,” Chalfant continued. “She sees the best in people and is very positive.”

 

For those wondering what you can get at Vincent Lumber Company has to offer, it offers what most would believe a lumber company would offer – most notably lumber and hardware. Chalfant said anything standard hardware shops offer, along with metal roofing, is available.

 

“We’re a smaller version of a Lowe’s or a Home Depot,” said Chalfant.

 

The store is open 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 7:30 a.m. to noon on Saturday. The store is closed on Sunday. Information from the store can be obtained by calling 304-592-2298.

 

“I am extremely thankful for the large amount of support I’ve received from my family, friends and the people of the community,” said Chalfant.

 

He’s also got the backing of two very important individuals.

 

“We wish Jeffrey good luck and are happy to see a new generation take over,” said previous owners for the past 28 years Louis and Diane (Vincent) Smith of Shinnston.

 

Editor's Note: Top photo shows Jeffrey Chalfant behind the register at the Shinnston business, while he looks over merchandise in the middle photo. Bottom picture shows previous owners Louis and Diane Smith with Chalfant shortly after the closing Thursday.