Newtown On ‘Target List’ For Sears Hometown Store

By John Voket

A representative of Sears Hometown Stores, which is opening several franchises in the region in the coming months, said he is working with possible dealer-owner candidates as well as local commercial realtors with the hope of establishing a location in Newtown in the coming months.

Arthur Burke, a regional development manager for Sears Hometown Stores told The Newtown Bee August 12 that New Milford and Colchester stores were on track for near future openings, and that Newtown was next on his “target list.”

Mr Burke said each local Sears Hometown store is locally owned and operated, and features a 5,000–6,000-square-foot retail area, along with about 2,000 square feet of warehouse space. He said stores have the option of offering direct delivery from the franchises, and customers can also access computer kiosks in each location to arrange delivery to that store for pickup themselves.

He said the Hometown Stores have a circulating seasonal stock that would feature things like gas grills, gardening equipment and patio furniture in the spring, and table games like ping-pong and exercise equipment around the holiday season.

The stores also sell home electronics, appliances and hardware, along with water heaters and softeners.

A location similar to what he is scouting right now in Newtown could employ two or more delivery drivers if the store opts to offer that service, and the retail operations typically open with “three or four associates plus the owner,” Mr Burke said.

“The stores typically add more staff as they get busier,” he said, adding that a store like the one targeted for Newtown would expect to generate “a minimum of $2 million annually in sales.”

He said he has been eyeing retail locations along Route 25, but Deputy Land Use Director Rob Sibley said there was also a location zoned for that type of turnkey occupancy in the Curtiss Corporate Park as well.

Mr Sibley said that if the company was in negotiation to occupy with a private seller in an established and appropriately zoned area, the only advance notice his department might get ahead of opening is a sign permit request.

“Otherwise, if they have the resources, they could be in and up and running in a few weeks,” Mr Sibley said.

According to the Sears Holding Corporation website, Sears Hometown Stores offer a unique retailing concept that combines the feel and exceptional customer service of a small community store with the wide assortment of tools, appliances, electronics, and lawn and garden merchandise offered by Sears, Roebuck and Co.

The locations are designed to allow customers in small communities to have access to the products and brands usually only found in Sears stores, according to the site.