image description
Store employees join manager Christine Bujanow to cut the ribbon on the new Kohl's department store in Lenox.
image description
The new Kohl's was constructed next to Marshalls in the The Center at Lenox.

Kohl's Cuts Ribbon on Lenox Location

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
Print Story | Email Story

Store manager Christine Bujanow prepares the sales floor before Kohl's grand opening
 

LENOX, Mass. — Store employees cut the ribbon on the Berkshire's newest retail store on Friday.

Centrally located on Pittsfield Road, Kohl's hopes to meet the local demand for shopping options while providing personable customer service. The small format department store had a soft opening on Sunday before its official debut at the end of the week.

This is the first Kohl's to open in Berkshire County. The closest stores are in Springfield and in Colonie, N.Y.

Manager Christine Bujanow said the store was brought to the region to offer more diversity in products and give residents another place to shop.

"We hope for amazing success and people in the community that really love to shop here and just have a great time here, make it feel more like a family store rather than a corporation just because we are a smaller style," she said.

"To make sure that everyone is just treated with the utmost greatest customer service that we can provide and hospitality."

There are currently 50 associates on staff and with the holiday season approaching, the store is looking for seasonal employees.

Bujanow has been with the company for over a decade and has worked in five different stores.

The building is new construction next to Marshall's. Employees were able to come in at the end of September, taking about a month to prepare the sales floor for opening.

Kohl's carries a number of brands including Nike, Under Armor, Adidas, Champion, and in-store-exclusive brands such as Sonoma Goods for Life, LC by Lauren Conrad, and Simply Vera by Vera Wang.



It also offers electronics, Amazon products through a partnership, and Fitbit health and fitness monitors.

All products are also available online and shoppers can opt for in-store pickup to avoid shipping fees.  If the item is in the store's inventory it can be picked up within two hours.

"I'm super excited and waiting years for this," said one customer who did not wish to give her name. She described the store as having "mini versions" of Kohl's housewares departments. 
 
But she thinks company "dropped the ball" by failing to include a jewelry counter or Sephora counter. There's another cosmetics outlet in the area that "could use a little competition," she said.
 
She hopes that Kohl's will listen to customers and consider adding those missing departments. 

Along with excited customers, company leadership came to the store to mark its opening day.

"I am absolutely thrilled that we're here in the Berkshires," Boston-Albany District Manager Sarena Bearce said.

"Our store is beautiful. we're very, very excited to be here and we cannot wait to be a bigger part of the community."


Tags: new business,   grand opening,   

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Pittsfield Firefighters Knock Down Morningside Blaze

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Fire Department knocked down a two-alarm blaze in the Morningside neighborhood in less than an hour on Friday. 

Just before 3 p.m., the department received a report of a fire at 25 Pine St. Deputy Fire Chief Daniel Garner said he arrived at the scene first and saw heavy fire showing from the rear of the more than 100-year-old home. 

"We just went to work, pretty much," he explained. 

"Because of the heavy volume of fire and the potential for a high number of occupants, I called a double alarm, which called all available Pittsfield firefighters directly to the scene. And I would say the fire was knocked down and under control within an hour." 

Eight occupants were evacuating the home when firefighters arrived, and there were no civilian or firefighter injuries. People, including the occupants, stood on the sidewalk and watched the scene unfold. 

When iBerkshires arrived, firefighters were on the ladder, extinguishing the top level of the home from the side and rear.  

There were five fire engines and one ladder truck. Hinsdale also came to assist, and Lenox and Dalton were called for standby. 

Garner believes the building is salvageable and repairable, but recognized that the family won't be able to stay there tonight. An extended family appears to live in the home. 

The cause of the fire has not yet been determined; the Fire Investigation Division was on site. The Red Cross will provide assistance to the residents of the home. 

View Full Story

More Pittsfield Stories