Medical House’s new location can be summed up in two words “more space”.

Moving into the old Standard Hardware Building, at 6 Bakery Lane, Pembroke, has increased its floor space from 18,000 sq ft to 25,000 sq ft.

“We have moved several times over the years,” owner Mickey Robinson said. “Each time, we outgrew the space. We were last on Mill Reach Lane in Pembroke for 12 years. We moved on March 15.”

He said their old set-up was complicated because they were operating three warehouses, two office areas and two separate retail locations. When the property on Bakery Lane became available, he could not pass it up. It gave Medical House the ability to put everything under one roof.

“We see there is operational value in being in one place,” operations manager Danielle Smith said. “But most important for our customers’ benefit, we have more retail space.”

Previously, they did not have the space to put some of the products in the restaurant division on display. They are now working on getting those up and visible to the public.

Mr Robinson said, until the move, a lot of people did not even know they had a restaurant division.

“We delivered most of the goods,” he said. “Now we are opening up the retail restaurant supply section. Individuals can come in and shop.”

Their restaurant products now fall under a separate division, Bermuda Restaurant Supply.

“I think that will create some clarity for customers,” Mr Robinson said. “We are the same company, but we changed the name so that it is more related to what we are selling. When you think of restaurants you don’t think of Medical House. Hence, we added a separate division.”

Mr Robinson said most of the restaurant division is takeout and eco-friendly products. “We sort of led the charge on the conversion from plastic to eco-friendly, four years ago,” he said.

In the last year, with the dining industry focused heavily on takeout, these items have been steadily gaining steam.

The pandemic has had good and bad impacts on Medical House. On the upside, they have sold a lot of face masks and protective gear since the health crisis began.

But many of their other products, aimed at the hospitality industry, such as toilet paper, have not been selling well because many hotels in Bermuda are closed or have cut back.

“It is a balancing act,” Mr Robinson said. “Some things have been good and some things haven’t been as good.”

The medical side of the store sells everything from wheelchairs and mobility scooters to oxygen and canes.

The new location has improved accessibility for customers with mobility challenges.

“Before we did have limited handicapped access, but the floors weren’t as wide as they are now,” Ms Smith said. “Now with the new floor space we can invite everyone in comfortably.”

And there is a back door and ramp leading directly from the parking lot which makes it easier for people in wheelchairs or mobility scooters to enter.

There is also plentiful parking outside.

“Everybody loves that,” Ms Smith said. “As soon as they come in they say, oh look at this place. You have so much parking. They are excited.”

Mr Robinson said the extra parking was probably the biggest reason for the move.

He said that while Medical House has its competitors, it is unique in its mix of products.

“The way we are configured is very different from most companies,” Mr Robinson said. “We have our medical side. We have uniforms and footwear. We have janitorial. We have safety and we have restaurant supply. I can’t think of another company that is mixed like that. We put it all under one roof.”

Mr Robinson said when describing their new location they tell young people it is right next to Dandy Town Field on St John’ Road in Pembroke.

“Usually younger people know where that is, but older people don’t,” he laughed. “I tell older people we are in the old Standard Hardware Building just after Gorhams, headed west.”

During the most recent lockdown Medical House was deemed an essential business.

For more information see www.medicalhouse.bm/, check them out on Instagram @medicalhousebermuda, Facebook @medicalhousebda, call 292-3622 or e-mail orders@medicalhouse.bm.