Higgins Energy Alternatives is one of the oldest and largest fireplace shops in the United States. Our family business was first opened by Ron and Sue Higgins as an antique store in a barn on Route 122 in Barre, Massachusetts. The Energy Crisis of 1979 brought the addition of wood stoves and chainsaws to our product mix, and so we became “Higgins Stoves and Antiques.”
When the business outgrew the barn, we moved to a new location a bit farther down the road. To keep our chainsaw mechanic, Al, busy during the winter months, Polaris ATVs and snowmobiles were added to our product mix. Our growth continued, and we expanded our facility in 1987. With this new space came a snowmobile and lawn and garden showroom, and a new shop. Al was grateful for this addition, since he originally worked on snowmobiles in a 10’x16′ unheated shed! While at this location, two new employees joined the Higgins team, Sam and Lu, who were both with us for more than 25 years.
In 1994, we moved to another new location just across the street and totally remodeled it. In 1995, Christopher, Ron and Sue’s son, joined the business full-time (although he’ll tell you he’s been here since he was 3!). Chris persuaded us to expand our snowmobile business into a full-fledged powersports business, and in the late 1990s, Higgins Powersports was officially established. You can learn more about Higgins Powersports here.
With the addition of several new product lines for both Higgins Energy and Higgins Powersports, the demand grew substantially. In 2012, we built a brand new building just a few doors down from the shop. This unique store now houses both Higgins Energy Alternatives and Higgins Powersports and our full product lines in two beautiful showrooms, plus a full warehouse and service shop. After moving to our current location, Ron and Sue’s daughter, Jenn, joined the family business in 2016.
Today, Higgins Energy Alternatives is a multi-product line operation, offering top name pellet, wood, and gas stove and fireplace brands, as well as our own solar panel distribution and installation services to our customers in Central Massachusetts and beyond. Over the years, we have gained decades of experience and a long history of industry awards and accolades, so you can trust that your home heating project is in the right hands.
We are committed to providing a quality customer experience, and so we have grown and expanded to better serve our customers. We now offer everything for your buying needs in-house, including orders, financing, service, installation, and warranty registration to make creating your own cozy home as seamless and simple as possible.
To this day, Ron and Sue along with their son, Chris, and daughter, Jenn, run the entire Higgins operation. We have grown and expanded over the years but remain committed to serving our local community with love, care and warmth. After all these years, from our humble antique store in the barn, having moved 3 more times along the same street, and ending up with a custom-built showroom and warehouse, we are proud of our history and our story. This is why we remain located in the same small town run by the same family, where our top priority is customer good will and satisfaction.
