SCHENECTADY Ocean State Job Lot plans expansion Store to add 10 workers and 15,000 square feet BY MICHAEL LAMENDOLA Gazette Reporter Reach Gazette reporter Michael Lamendola at 395-3114 or lamend@dailygazette.com.
A discount retailer will expand operations at the Crosstown Plaza on Route 7, adding 10 jobs to its work force and filling another vacant store front, local officials announced. Ocean State Job Lot will take over an additional 15,000 square feet on top of the 25,000 square feet it currently occupies in the plaza. It is filling the space of a recently closed drug store. “You can’t have a community littered with empty storefronts, and we don’t anymore,” said Ray Gillen, chairman of the Metroplex Development Authority. Metroplex assisted in recruiting Ocean State Job Lot to Schenectady in 2007 and helped coordinate local approvals needed for the store to expand. The store was the company’s second in New York; the first was in Ballston Spa. Gillen said Metroplex worked with the plaza’s owner, the Robert Lupe family, to find tenants. “It was on our target list. This is part of our smart growth strategy to fill empty retail space in the county. Ocean State Job Lot is a great example of utilizing existing space and making it a success for the company and the community,” he said. Shelley Lupe, co-owner, said, “We are pleased to see this expansion by Ocean State Job Lot. The company’s exciting approach to retail has certainly been a success with Schenectady shoppers.” The expansion will add approximately 10 jobs to the store’s local work force of 30. Ocean State Job Lot employs more than 3,000 with annual sales exceeding $400 million. Gillen said the additional jobs are retail-based, but “any job is important right now.” Ocean State Job Lot is a leading retail chain with 89 stores in Rhode Island, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine and New York. It buys large lots of brandname items and sells them at a discount. The company has a 1 million-square-foot distribution center in Rhode Island to store and ship brand-name items quickly to its stores. Ocean State Job Lot co-founder and CEO Marc Perlman said the company built its business “based on an understanding that people work hard for their money and would like to purchase as much good-quality merchandise as they can. This is our central focus, and bargain hunters have been trading with us for over three decades.” Susan E. Savage, D-Niskayuna, chairwoman of the Schenectady County Legislature, said the expansion continues “our success in creating new jobs and bringing increased sales tax revenues to Schenectady County.”
"You can't have a communtiy littered with empty storefronts-and we don't anymore? Stated Death Ray. HUH? Has he been on Crane St? How about Eastern Avenue? Can he find McClellan St unlike SOS?
First let me say thank you to Ocean State and urge people to shop there, especially for many Italian and European food items. This is a great resource for pool supplies and lower priced groceries. There is plenty of free parking and it is located close to 890. Not too many businesses are expanding in the highest taxed County in the NATION.
The idiotic, self serving statements by Sue "The" Savage and Death Ray warrant additional comment. First Metrograft took over the flop St James Square in Nisky, with predicted results, even more tenants including the US Government fled. These socialists don't know how to create jobs only weaken competition and the tax base with give aways.
La Sortoria is in Latham-not Downtown. The Big Hose is a $3 million taxpayer ripoff. No retail is coming Downtown. Proctor's is lucky to get 300 in a 2,800 theatre. The Van Dyke goes belly up and has one buyer at the auction. Duane Ave/Cardio Mag "high tech corridor" is another total flop. Little Italy-lol!
There is apparently a need for Ocean State or else they would not be expanding. So good for them. HOWEVER....this is the statement that made me spit my coffee out..................
Quoted Text
“You can’t have a community littered with empty storefronts, and we don’t anymore,” said Ray Gillen, chairman of the Metroplex Development Authority.
There are empty store fronts EVERYWHERE, including the 2 blocks of State Street!!
They open, they close. They are suppose to open, and they never do. They are bought for hundreds of thousands of taxpayer's money and they are sold for $1. Where is the oversight and where is the AUDIT??????? And best of all, how does this guy (Gillen) keep his job?
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
There is apparently a need for Ocean State or else they would not be expanding. So good for them. HOWEVER....this is the statement that made me spit my coffee out.................. There are empty store fronts EVERYWHERE, including the 2 blocks of State Street!!
They open, they close. They are suppose to open, and they never do. They are bought for hundreds of thousands of taxpayer's money and they are sold for $1. Where is the oversight and where is the AUDIT??????? And best of all, how does this guy (Gillen) keep his job?
Right but it's MILLIONS of your dollars! What you talkin about Benny?1) Gillette House-over a MILLION Dollars of your money flushed down the pishaloo and sold to the horrible Chamber for $1. Then they can't finish it and will attempt sale. Karen Johnson{D-Proctor's} cheerleads for this and escapes all blame.
2)Center City "porch" another MILLION taxpayer dollars flushed down the toilet sold to developer for one dollar. Look at State below Erie-block after block totally deserted. Neutron bomb site. Death Ray continues to throw manure around and idiots like Sal cheer. Nobody says nuthin-Gazetto continues to look the other way-Sheeple continue to vote straight Kratz.
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"You can't have a communtiy littered with empty storefronts-and we don't anymore? Stated Death Ray. HUH? Has he been on Crane St? How about Eastern Avenue? Can he find McClellan St unlike SOS?
