Those in the market for some business or house renovations involving paint, are in luck. Tony’s Paints is now open in Oak Harbor on 1130 N.E. 7th St., across from Whidbey Island Bank.

Owner Tony Maggio and his family moved from Mount Vernon about two months ago to start their business. Maggio has worked in the paint business for 13 years and operated a paint store in Mount Vernon for the past five. He said he chose Oak Harbor for the location of his store because of the increasing building industry on the Island and in Oak Harbor. He said a good contractor base was also a determining factor.

Coming in, Maggio already has a handle on part of the market in Oak Harbor by supplying paint to some local contractors. Tony’s Paints is the only Benjamin Moore paint dealer on the Island and supplies many of the local businesses with the high-end brand. When asked how he got into the business, Maggio had a ready answer.

“I started as a delivery driver for Columbia Paint Company in Spokane about 13 years ago and worked my way up in the company” he said.

In addition to carrying Benjamin Moore paint, Tony’s Paints also features Cabot Stains for exterior cedar and siding decks. And to the advantage of its clients, Tony’s Paints carries two-ounce samplers of Benjamin Moore paint in colors such as Summer Blue, Monticello Rose, Wild Orchid, Haystack and Kingsport Gray for $2.99.

Normally, if a customer wanted to purchase a sample of paint, it would cost them around $11 a quart.

Maggio said his business also performs color matching and mixing with a computer. In all his years in the paint business Maggio said he has heard many a strange paint color requests. “I’ve seen it all, from people wanting to match a color to a pillow or to their cat’s hair,” he said.

Maggio lends a personal touch to his business and his employees admire his hard work. One of his painters, Dan Owen, commented on Maggio’s professionalism and willingness to go the extra mile.

“I’ve known Tony a long time and he knows the ins and outs of the paint business. He definitely goes the extra mile for his customers and if he were closed on a Sunday and I needed paint, he would find a way to get it to me” he said.