Stuart’s Marine reopens in Carrollton following warehouse fire

A boat repair shop displaced by the Jan. 18 fire that destroyed a warehouse in Isle of Wight County’s industrial park off Benns Church Boulevard has reopened in Carrollton, just under 5 miles away.

S.L. Nusbaum Realty Co. recently announced Stuart’s lease of 2,969 square feet at the former U.S. 258 Auto Parts at 22073 Brewers Neck Blvd.

“We’re starting from scratch,” said owner David Stuart.

Prior to the move, the business had been located for 10 years in Suite G of the 23,000-square-foot multi-tenant warehouse that burned.

“We lost everything,” Stuart said, including a boat that had been parked in the warehouse suite and specialty hand tools and electronics.

Stuart launched a rebuilding campaign on GoFundMe, a crowdfunding website, which as of July 17 had taken in $2,510 from 24 donations. It was well short of the campaign’s stated $50,000 goal, but “we got enough to start over here,” Stuart said. “It’s still a struggle day to day to make it happen. Any profit we get up here is sunk back into the company.”

Stuart, in January, told The Smithfield Times he’d seen black smoke rolling out of an automotive shop adjacent to his suite the morning of the Jan. 18 fire, and had made the 10:20 a.m. 911 call that drew fire and rescue units from 10 agencies to the scene. He recalled evacuating just as a glowing red wall behind his office and an adjacent bathroom burst into flames hot enough to melt the aluminum stored in his business.

The fire, which Isle of Wight County Fire and Rescue ruled accidental, was part of a string of misfortunes to visit the Stuart family that month.

Shortly before the blaze, Stuart’s father, David Stuart Sr., was diagnosed with cancer. A few days after the fire, Stuart Sr. was involved in a car crash.

“He’s got a broken back right now,” Stuart Jr. said. “He’s had a run of bad luck.”

The father-son duo has owned and operated Stuart’s Marine since 2002. In addition to boat repairs, the business sells marine parts and accessories and repairs boat trailers.

“I’ve always loved boats,” Stuart Jr. said. “I’ve grown up around them.”

Stuart’s Marine was one of roughly a dozen tenants displaced by the fire. Others included Motorcycle Dreams, a dealer in pre-1980s Harley Davidson motorcycles and parts; KeepItMovin’, a mechanic shop; Virginia Pressure Washing; automotive shop Complete Auto; and Field of Dreams Gymnastics.