SARATOGA SPRINGS — Longtime family-owned plumbing and HVAC business Capitol District Supply has officially moved under new ownership, but not much else is expected to change for the local company.
Capitol District Supply was purchased by N&S Supply, a Fishkill-based plumbing supply store, in March. Capitol Supply manager Adam Zima said the sale will allow the generation above him to retire while also allowing the company to maintain current operations and realize opportunities for future growth.
“We just had to figure out a way to allow the generation above me to retire,” said Zima. “We employ a lot of people, how do we keep everyone going? I think we found the right mix.”
N&S Supply is also a family-owned business, and incorporated in 1946, just one year after Capitol District Supply first opened. In addition to the sale, Zima purchased the real estate of Capitol Supply’s physical locations in Saratoga Springs, Albany, and Schenectady.
N&S itself is owned by Watsco, an HVAC distributor headquartered in Miami, Florida. Zima said Capitol Supply had a prior relationship with N&S, and that they will be left to continue operations mainly as usual moving forward.
“Watsco buys companies like us, and the point is to leave us alone and just provide us kind of the resources in the background,” said Zima. “The Nussbickel family still runs (N&S). There’s a corporate person in the background, but they have nothing to do with it. It’s still the Nussbickels, and that’s the whole point.”
“You could see what happened to them over the last three years. They technically sold, but they just grew the business and kept all their people. We’re doing the same thing.”
Zima said his father and uncles will have the opportunity to retire “in the near future,” and said the sale allows the company to remain stable in its operations and employees.
“We’re transitioning a bunch of things,” said Zima. “I get to keep all of our people, and I get to help them get more resources and help them grow. We have a ton of long-term people with us. At our Saratoga store, I’ve got a bunch of people who have worked for us since the ‘80s, and are still with us.”
Now, as owner of the company’s real estate, Zima said there will be some improvements he will look to make, including a new roof on the back warehouse in Saratoga Springs.
He also said that being part of a larger company will allow Capitol Supply more opportunities, including with green tax credits being adopted by New York State.
“There’s a ton of rebates and credits all geared toward HVAC equipment,” Zima said. “We now have access to different manufacturers and different lines that we didn’t have before, so that will be great to be able to really help contractors and help homeowners make their houses green. … We get to stay local, but I know in the background, I can better support the contractors when they’re doing big project work.”
Zima also noted it is meaningful for the company to continue operations in the area, 78 years after initially opening for business. He said he has strong memories and a strong connection to the area.
“I remember being in a hot tub, in a parking lot, in the summer of ‘86 for a grand opening,” said Zima. “That’s how far back we go. I was a little kid. … So I’ve got memories and a connection obviously to the building and to Saratoga.”
