Fitz' Fish Ponds Opens Store, Shop in Martinsville

Customers of Fitz' Fish Ponds from Far Hills to Summit know they can count on Brain Fitzsimmons' staff for maintaining and stocking their fish ponds, but now others can pick up supplies they need at the company's new retail location on Washington Valley Road.

The store opened in the small hut next to Martinsville Florist which was formerly the Guitar Hut. The small retail space is perfect for Fitz' needs, Fitzsimmons says, since nearly all of his business is service-oriented.

"We opened in June, so we really missed the spring season," he said, noting most of his work in the fall is maintenance for the winter with spring the most active season.

Consequently, the small retail space is only open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays and by appointment for the fall, but will have longer hours, and more products, come next spring.

"It's nice to have a place where people can come and see what we have," Site Manager Cory Vanderbeek said. He also noted the company "encountered a lot of new things this year" after opening the storefront.

The space is also nearly midpoint in the service area for Fitz', which also makes it ideal for storing supplies for their customers.

Fitzsimmons launched the company five years ago when he was just 17. In a 2011 interview for Bridgewater Patch, Fitzsimmons said he was drawn to creating fish ponds because he "liked the sound of running water."

He may be hearing a lot more running water soon: the shop's sign on Washington Valley Road has already drawn inquiries from potential customers who have spotted the shop.