Ocean State Job Lot Sets Grand Opening in North Adams
 Ocean State Job Lot will hold its grand opening on Aug. 24. |
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The old Walmart building opens this month with a new occupant: Ocean State Job Lot.
The major closeout retailer opens its 46th outlet in the state on Saturday, Aug. 24, at 8 a.m. at 830 Curran Highway.
"North Adams could not have been more hospitable," said David Sarlitto, head of marketing for Ocean State Job Lot. "From the office of the mayor to the community arts and business leaders we've had the pleasure of meeting, everyone has been very enthusiastic about the unique product values and community-centric approach Job Lot has to offer.
"It's an exciting time for everyone involved, and we thank the town leadership, most notably Mayor [Richard] Alcombright, as well as the small army of supporters who have made our move to North Adams possible."
The chain's move to North Adams has created 30 full- and part-time positions and filled more than half the building left vacant when Walmart moved its operations to a larger structure just down the road. Ocean State owns the building with two tenants expected to take up the balance of the space.
The first, Tractor Supply, has begun renovations and is expected to open in October in 27,000 square feet in the former garden center; a second tenant has not yet been identified.
Tractor Supply will employ 12 to 17 full- and part-time team members. The store will include sales floor and support service space. A fenced exterior space will be used for storage and displaying items such as fencing, sprayers and livestock equipment.
"Tractor Supply looks forward to being a member of the North Adams community," said District Manager Jim Schindley. "North Adams is a great fit due to the part-time and hobby farmers, and horse owners in the area. And many of our new customers are surprised to find we also offer pet supplies and clothing items for the entire family."
Ocean State Job Lot offers a wide assortment of brand-name merchandise at closeout prices in some 46,000 square feet of space, including household goods, apparel, pet supplies, seasonal products (gardening, outdoor, sporting goods), and kitchen pantry staples at what the store officials say is a fraction of their typical price.
Store Manager Scott Collett will oversee the facility. "Our team looks forward to hosting shoppers, dignitaries, members of the community and friends when the doors officially open on the 24th for business," he said.
The doors open at 8 a.m. on Aug. 24, with a ribbon-cutting at 10 with the mayor and local dignitaries. In keeping with Job Lot's community-first approach to business, two donations to local organizations will be made, courtesy of Ocean State Job Lot's Charitable Foundation: a truckload of nutritious, shelf-stable food to the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, and the sponsorship of Honor Flight New England, which flies Massachusetts-area World War II veterans to visit the WWII Memorial in Washington dedicated to their service.
"Thanks to the generosity of Job Lot customers throughout the area who gave at the registers, and by matching contributions from our Charitable Foundation, these two donations were made possible," said Mr. Sarlitto. Ocean State Job Lot, he said, has a long history of philanthropic leadership in the communities it serves.
Representatives from the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts and Honor Flight New England will be on hand to receive donations and help raise awareness of their organizations. Other activities include: a live remote broadcast and prize wheel by WUPE-FM; face painting and balloon animals by Cinderella; appearance by the SteepleCats mascot Slider; Northern Berkshire YMCA/Hoosac Tunnel Soccer League signups; prize drawings and other giveaways such as gallery admissions to DownStreet Art, carload passes to Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art's showing of the movie "Airplane!" that night at the airport and 2014 opening day SteepleCats tickets.
Ocean State Job Lot will also be offering a variety of free food samples and a chance to win a $200 shopping spree.
Store hours will be 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday.
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