DOWAGIAC — The new owner of a local business has been hard working to create a name for himself and his company in the Dowagiac community.

Late last year, local business Garage Doors Plus More, Inc., got both a new owner and new location. The store is now owned by Shawn Pond, 33, of Dowagiac, and is located at 24270 Marcellus Highway, Dowagiac. The business installs and services commercial and residential doors, openers and gate operators. If there is a need to be filled with a garage door, Pond said his business can take care of it.

“It’s the same name, but a different service and a different company,” Pond said. “This business has always been local, and I am keeping it local.”

Pond said working with garage doors is something he has always done and that buying Garage Doors Plus More, Inc. seemed like a good fit for him. He purchased the business last September as a way to provide himself with a change of pace from the construction industry in which he previously worked. In the time since, he said he has been working to build up a solid reputation and become an active business in the community.

“It all comes down to your name and what’s out there,” he said. “Word of mouth is the key to a successful in a small town. A good name will bring you a long way.”

It is Pond’s dedication to the community that he said sets him apart from other business like his and contributes to the fact that he has already received a steady stream of work in his first few months of operation.

“We have that community knowledge. We are not a big corporation, and when you call us, you are talking to someone local,” he said.

“We are all friends here,” added Jennifer Boissoneau, secretary of Garage Doors Plus More, Inc. “We know the community, and we are people that they can trust.”

Going forward, Pond said he wants to continue to be a part of the community and grow his business in Dowagiac.

“We want to grow steadily, make a living and provide a good service for the community,” Pond said. “I’m happy to be here.”

Garage Doors Plus More, Inc., is open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. The business also offers weekend hours by appointment and after-hours, 24-7 emergency services. For more information, call (269) 782-3417.