Local dentist Dr. Michael Rocca is all about expansion this summer.
He is expanding his Wallaceburg practice to Point Edward and he’s designed and built a clinic that has room to grow.
On May 26, he opened a 4,000-square-foot dental clinic on the northwest corner of Michigan and Front streets, where Milano’s restaurant once stood.
“The moment I saw the property for sale, I said, ‘Wow, what an awesome location!’
“Every time someone drives to the bridge for fries, they see us,” said Rocca. Adding to the property’s appeal is the fact that he spent his teenaged summers working at Bridgeview Marina and feels very familiar with Point Edward.
Dr. Rocca has been practicing in Wallaceburg for a decade and living in Sarnia. But, when his wife was expecting their first child in 2011, he began looking for an office closer to home.
Currently, he intends to share his time between his Wallaceburg and Point Edward locations, spending only one day a week at the new clinic until it is busier.
Not only do the new offices cut down on his commute, they also gave Rocca, 42, an opportunity to design his own building from the ground up.
“I wanted something outside the box, something cosmopolitan, with lots of symmetry and space,” he said.
The new clinic has a large reception area with a child’s play area and a refreshment bar.
A sterilization area that’s visible from the clinical area allows patients to see the process as they walk by. There are currently two patient suites with room for several more. During excavation the contractor hit a high water table and the design work had to be modified.
“We had to forget about a basement,” Rocca said.
It took a full year working with Dixin Construction but he finds it well worth it.
“It’s been really rewarding to see something develop from nothing. I really enjoy that.”
Dentistry at The Point at 724 Michigan Ave. is open five days a week and employs two hygienists.
Call 519-491-7777 for more information or visit http://www.dentistryatthepoint.ca/
HOGAN PHARMACY CLOSING DOWNTOWN
Operations are winding down at Hogan’s Pharmacy in the Bayside Centre after the downtown mall reportedly refused to renew the drug store’s lease.
“It’s a shame really. I think we provided a good service to the area and we were very convenient,” said operations manager Steve Churchman.
“There are others that want to stay but have been told they have to go as well,” he said. “We don’t know why.”
Calls to mall management went unanswered.
Hogan’s Pharmacy at Bayside stopped providing prescription service in late May. All prescription information was moved to the company’s other Sarnia location at 457 London Rd. The storefront continues to sell over the counter medications, snacks and newspapers until late July, said Churchman.
Hogan’s Pharmacy operated in Bayside Centre for 14 years and employed five.
All employees are being “absorbed” into the company, which also owns a pharmacy in Corunna and has a number of other interests.
Former customers of Hogan’s in the mall will see familiar faces at the London Road store where two technicians have relocated, as well as the delivery person.
SEE WHERE THE EYE DOCTORS MOVED
Optometrists Connie Seto and Darcy Winch have moved their office to the former Zeller's plaza at 1249 London Road, along the west side of the shopping centre.
They have practiced full scope family optometry in Sarnia for 16 years and 14 years respectively.
“Our new office has much more accessible parking, a more centralized location in the city, and is 40% larger than our previous office,” said Dr. Seto.
“This is an exciting move for us and we are looking forward to being part of the new changes coming to the property.”
Both doctors are accepting new patients. Contact their new office at 519-491-1010.
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Got an interesting business story? Contact Cathy Dobson at [email protected] or call 226-932-0985.
- Cathy Dobson