Image courtesy Biggar Museum & Gallery

Patrick O'Brien (Paddie) came to Biggar in the early 1920's. He started working in his brother in laws grocery store which was James Bros. The store was located where the Biggar Super A is today. Patrick saved his money and managed to buy a store building which today is the building occupied by Sears order office. Patrick while still working in the grocery store opened a second hand store in the building he had purchased. Patrick was good at repairing appliances etc. and the part time business was a success. In about 1936 he turned the second hand store into a hardware store known as O'Briens Hardware. This business was also a success ad he and his two sons operated it for the next 40 years. The building was then rented out to businesses and in 1995 was sold to Ray and Gerda Dearing for a plumbing store. The plumbing store was closed down in 2006. Michael Minto purchased the property to renovate and combine with the existing Sears store. Advantex Computer Solutions and Sears now operate from this location.