(LITCHFIELD, Conn.) - Clearwater of Litchfield – a name synonymous with quality pools, hot tubs, spas and outdoor furniture since its founding more than 25 years ago – has lost its lease and will liquidate its entire inventory of merchandise at an on-site auction slated for Saturday, June 6, starting promptly at noon. The auction will be held at the store, in the Village Green Shopping Plaza, located at 55 Village Green Drive (Rte. 202) in Litchfield.
“The timing for this sale is good, with the weather warm and people thinking about the outdoors and leisure activities,”
The above-ground pools are made by Doughboy, a 50-year-old company with a reputation for making solidly built pools with variable depth liner systems. The hot tubs are made by Dimension One Spas, one of the top three manufacturers in the country. D-1 spas are engineered to last, with patented water management systems, inspired ergonomic seating, low maintenance and elegant, classic styling.
The outdoor furnishings are from four manufacturers:
Company vehicles will also be offered, to include 1996 and 1997 Dodge vans, a 1997 Dodge 4x4 pick-up truck with a diesel engine, and a Hyster forklift. “It's a sad day for Litchfield that such a successful, longstanding company such as Clearwater is losing its lease,” Mr. Chapulis remarked. “I'm a resident of Litchfield myself, and I'll be sorry to see them go. They enjoyed great success for years.”
Clearwater of Litchfield was founded in the early 1970s, in nearby Thomaston. The owner, Fred Flammia, was a beloved local figure who built the business on a reputation of quality stock and customer service. Mr. Flammia sold middle-to-top-
Sadly, Mr. Flammia passed away suddenly, while on a fishing trip in the 1990s. His widow continued to own the building, but sold the business to a local man. He continued to operate the company under the same name, but when Mrs. Flammia approached him to buy the building, the two were unable to strike a deal. Instead, he moved the company to Litchfield, where it's been ever since.
At first the business was housed in modest quarters in the Village Green Shopping Plaza, its current address. When the much larger freestanding building in the plaza was completed, the business was quickly relocated there. But when the owner took ill, in 2001, the opportunity presented itself to partners Marc Katz and Mark Greenberg to buy the company. That's exactly what they did, in 2002.
The men embraced the challenge, despite having a somewhat limited knowledge of the leisure industry overall. They were primarily real estate investors, with offices in New York and Connecticut. Initially they retained several employees from the previous ownership to run Clearwater. But those people left over time, because of retirement or illness. So the two owners became much more hands-on.
“It was baptism by fire, and a real learning experience,”
While the retail operation was being trimmed, the service side of the business was taking off. The owners took a look around and decided they had more space than they needed, so they contracted from the full 11,000 square feet to about half that – 5,500 square feet. The rest was taken by a high-end, Whole Foods-style food store called The Market, which specializes in wholesome and healthy foods.
The wild success of The Market is what is causing Clearwater to lose its lease. The Market plans to use the extra space to open a bakery and an ancillary business called The Market Grapevine. It will sell the wines and other beverages that can best complement the meals and food sold at The Market. Mr. Katz said he hopes to open a new hot tub retail store sometime in the future.
There will be a preview for the Clearwater auction on the day of sale (June 6), at 11 a.m., or by appointment. Village Green Shopping Center is directly across the street from the Litchfield Firehouse, the site of a Cabin Fever Auction held March 28 by Tim's, Inc. “We called it the Cabin Fever Auction because folks needed a good reason to come out of their homes at the end of winter,” Chapulis said.
Tim's, Inc., is always accepting quality consignments for future auctions. To consign an item, an estate or a collection, you may call them directly, at (860) 459-0964, or toll-free, at (800) 255-8467. To learn more about the company, and for more information on the on-site sale of Clearwater of Litchfield, go to www.timsauction.com. Tim's Inc,'s mailing address is 1185 Farmington Ave., Bristol, CT 06010.
