From summer to all season

In one year, MAC Sport and Marine has branched out from a marine store into a four-season dealership.

This week, Bennington pontoon boats shared floor space with Arctic Cat snowmobiles, Suzuki ATVs and a side-by-side Arctic Cat Prowler. Winter jackets, helmets and bibs lined the walls and snowmobile trailers, now on closeout, waited in the parking lot at 1525 Broadway St.

“We’re here for the long run,” said Sales Manager John LeBoeuf. Like the former owners of the building, DeVinck’s Inc. auto sales, MAC Sport and Marine aims to build a close relationship with customers by focusing on their needs and providing top quality service.

“You will always be met with a handshake and a smile,” LeBoeuf said. The former DeVinck’s coffee pot is still on site, and employees brew up a fresh pot for customers daily.

Along with a wide array of products, MAC Sport and Marine mechanics service every make and model of boat, outboard motor, ATV, snowmobile, motorcycle or trailer. Service, LeBoeuf said, “is the backbone of your business.”

The dealership also provides boat storage and dock services, including installing and taking in docks. The employee roster has grown from three when the store opened to six, with up to nine employees during the busy summer months.

MAC Sport and Marine opened on Jan. 4, 2011. Co-owner John Cahill said it was important to the owners, most of whom are Superior natives, to base the store in Superior. The site is also centrally located between the major lakes that MAC provides sales and service to.

The business’ first customers saw mainly marine offerings. Cahill encouraged them to stop back by and see how the store has changed.

Although snowmobiles haven’t been big sellers due to the weather, the power sports dealer started fielding calls about the new 2012 pontoons last week. Cabin fever is starting early, Cahill said, possibly due to the recent stretch of warm weather.

“Most customers are still looking for snow,” he said. “They want some snow and cold.”

There has been an increased interest in ATVs with plows due to a new city ordinance that allows residents to operate ATVs with beacons and plows on side streets after snowstorms to clear sidewalks and driveways. The business accepts trade-ins, although the used vehicles don’t stay in stock long. Other big sellers are the new Arctic Cat Prowlers. Two of the five new vehicles unloaded last week are already gone.

The main message MAC Sport and Marine had for the public was they have settled into their new space and are ready to help customers with both sales and service.

“We’re still getting people to know that we’re here,” Cahill said.

Thursday hours were recently extended to 8 p.m. to serve customer needs. The dealer will have a booth at the Duluth Boat Show, Feb. 15-19 at the DECC, and the Douglas County Fish and Game League Sports Show, March 23-25 at Wessman Arena.

For more information, stop by the showroom, visit www.macsportandmarine.com or call (715) 718-2700.

Tags: northland outdoors, news, business, travel, family, superior