Monday, October 6, 2008

City councilman's downtown computer business prospers

By Debra Ehrhart and Melody Gustafson
EAST LIVERPOOL - Councilman Brian Kerr's computer shop, PC Doctors, has a new location inside the old Ogilvie's building at Fifth and Market. Kerr's business has been very successful since it opened in 2004.

PC Doctors is open seven days a week and features new and used computers and peripherals. Kerr also specializes in computer maintenance for home and business networking, and his is the only local computer shop that can boast of technical support every day.

Kerr decided to open this store downtown because he knows that the city has promise. "The area is small, but the business is pretty good," he said.

PC Doctors has two other locations: one in Steubenville, which was the first to open in 1998, and another in Wheeling. Kerr would like to expand, possibly to Salem, or Hopewell, Pennsylvania because of the opportunity for a niche in those areas with their large, competitive markets.

To man the locations, he has hired seven workers, one of whom helps him with the government contracts, which involve the rehabilitation of federal prisoners through computer instruction. He's been instructing inmates for six years, including those at the Elkton facility and in a Lewisburg, Pennsylvania prison as well.

Before opening his businesses, Kerr worked for KSU for nine years as a computer technician and he installed the wireless network for the Mary Patterson Building.

He is also an elected councilman, representing the first ward of the city, otherwise known as East End. Kerr added that he does not agree with people who forecast a gloomy future for East Liverpool. "I believe in downtown," he said.

To call ahead about sales and service, call 330-385-6418 or email pcdoctorsinc@yahoo.com .
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Photo by Melody Gustafson

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