Revolution in Aisle 5: Connecticut Entrepreneurs Transform Former Sears Store

WINDHAM, Conn. - Hundreds of Sears stores have closed across the country in the past few years, including several in Connecticut.

That’s a lot of empty storefronts to fill. Tear them down? Break them into smaller shops? Let them sit idle and fall into disrepair?

A Connecticut entrepreneur had a better idea. Klaus Larsen looked at the shuttered Sears Hardware store in Windham and saw a space that could serve as headquarters for a revolution.

“We are going to transform the roofing industry,” Larsen said. “We are ready to do what no one has ever done before.”

Larsen and partner Larry Janesky, founder and CEO of Seymour-based Contractor Nation and Connecticut Basement Systems, have launched Klaus Roofing Systems, a network of roofing contractors committed to delivering the highest quality products and unforgettable experiences for their customers. 

The Klaus Roofing Systems headquarters officially opens on Tuesday, Feb. 4. The building will be open to the public for tours from 4p to 7p, and guests will have the opportunity to meet Larsen and Janesky. Where there once were Kenmore washing machines and Craftsman tool boxes, there are now modern offices, a 400-seat auditorium and a two-story home - inside the building.

“There’s no other building like this anywhere,” said Larsen. “We have built a training center that will attract roofing contractors from across the country. A house inside a building ... are you kidding me?”

Larsen and Janesky are intent on building a business that’s going to create a greater level of success for the contractors through a relentless commitment to training.

“For years, roofing manufacturers have focused on product sales,” said Janesky. “We’re focused on building businesses - we put the contractor first. We train the owner how to be an excellent leader and we train their people on how to deliver the highest quality for homeowners.”

Klaus Roofing Systems is part of the Contractor Nation network of home improvement and home services companies. Other businesses and networks in Contractor Nation include Basement Systems, CleanSpace, Total Basement Finishing, Dr. Energy Saver, Attic Systems, Treehouse Internet Group, The School of Entrepreneurship, MoreHouse Finance, Supportworks, National Radon Defense and Junkluggers.

For more information or to schedule an interview with Larry Janesky or Klaus Larsen, please contact Tom Matthews, National Marketing Director, at 203.517.5435 or [email protected].