MONROE, CT — JADAR Building Materials recently opened in Z-Topia, filling a building at 1565 Monroe Turnpike, while continuing the revitalization of the former Stevenson Lumber site, in which industrial buildings left behind are being repurposed with new uses.
This building, near the entrance from Route 111, how houses JADAR, Bethel International Ministries and Dwight Hall, which hosts events.
On Saturday afternoon, First Selectman Terry Rooney, Economic and Community Development Director William Holsworth and Monroe Chamber of Commerce President Ray Giovanni welcomed JADAR with a ribbon cutting ceremony.
JADAR, which primarily offers drywall and tools used for its installation, was started by Reynaldo Daudt and his wife Josie, of Trumbull. Daudt said they plan to expand to include lumber products in the future.
The business delivers supplies to commercial and residential sites, placing the materials wherever their clients need it to be. For instance, Giovannia said JADAR can use a boom truck to hoist drywall panels through any opening on the second floor of a building to avoid lugging it upstairs.
“This is our first business,” Daudt said. “We’re originally from Brazil. We moved to America 17 years ago. I worked in this industry for 16 years. I love what I do — serving people and gaining knowledge of the industry. I had a really good mentor.”
Daudt learned the business under Jack Richardson, the owner of Richardson Gypsum Supply in Stamford.
The name JADAR was derived from the first names of the Daudt family: Josie, kids Alanna, 15, David, 12 and Ayla, 5, and Reynaldo.
“Our main focus is serving the community and providing excellent service,” Daudt said.
JADAR’s 1,200-square-feet of floor space includes stacks of drywall, buckets of all purpose joint compound, saw horses, sacks of easy sand joint compound, drywall screws, boxes of DeWalt drywall sanders and tubes of calking among its inventory.
JADAR officially opened Monday and is open Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Saturday from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Its phone number is 203-243-4846. Daudt said they have an Instagram page and will soon have a more significant online presence.
A Monroe welcome
In addition to town officials, Saturday’s ribbon cutting ceremony included the Daudts’ relatives and friends.
Rooney cut the ribbon with a giant pair of scissors and, immediately afterward, the first selectman thanked JADA Building Products for joining Monroe’s business community.
“The working end of society is very huge in Monroe,” he said. “We have a very large workforce in construction, so this will help our contractors get what they need in a very close proximity, so thank you for bringing your business here. Thank you for believing in Monroe.”
“Our citizens need to support our businesses. That’s the only way they thrive,” Rooney continued. “The citizens of Monroe a lot of times will talk about, ‘we have a lot of pizza places and liquor stores and nail salons.’ They thrive, because people use them. We need to use every business in Monroe, because if we use them, they will do well. They will stay here and they will supply us for decades to come.”
Giovanni told the Daudts the Monroe Chamber of Commerce respects how business owners put a lot on the line to be successful and vowed to assist JADAR in any way it can.
“We’re gonna steer all our contractor friends to you, now that we know you have this expertise and professionalism, which you cannot always find,” Giovanni said.
He said the Daudts are a nice family that cares about others, which should resonate with their customers.
Giovanni also recognized Holsworth for being critical to helping the new business to open.
While pursuing their business in April, Daudt said the Monroe location — only a 10 minute commute from their home — was the first place he and his wife looked at, adding everything fell into place from there. Josie said town officials were welcoming and the process went smoothly.
All respectful comments with the commenter’s first and last name are welcome.
