Oak Ridge Today

Sears’ future won’t affect Sears Hometown Store in Oak Ridge

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Sears Hometown Store on Fairbanks Road in Oak Ridge had a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday, March 17, 2017. (Photo by Kay Brookshire)

Sears Hometown Store on Fairbanks Road in Oak Ridge had a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday, March 17, 2017. (Photo by Kay Brookshire)

 

With the recent news surrounding Sears Holdings Corporation, the Sears Hometown Store in Oak Ridge said Wednesday that it wants to assure local residents “they are going strong and will continue providing the community access to the brands they love and need.”

Sears Hometown locations operate under Sears Hometown and Outlet Stores Inc., which separated from Sears Holdings Corporation in October 2012 and is a completely separate, publicly-traded company, a press release said.

“With this, news reports from Sears Holdings Corporation about its performance or store closings are in no way a reflection of the health of Sears Hometown and Outlet Stores or the Oak Ridge Sears Hometown Store,” the press release said. “Plus, unlike most retail concepts, Sears Hometown Stores combine the value, selection, and services associated with larger retail stores but are owned and operated by a member of the local community.”

The Oak Ridge store is locally owned and operated. [Read more…]

New Sears Hometown Store opens in Oak Ridge

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A Sears Hometown Store has opened in Oak Ridge. The store is at 142 Fairbanks Road, near the corner of Oak Ridge Turnpike and Florida Avenue. Pictured above in December 2016 are owner Leslie Agron, left; employee Dave Hetes, second from left; Bill Heavilin, right; and Lore Heavilin, second from right. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

A Sears Hometown Store has opened in Oak Ridge. The store is at 142 Fairbanks Road, near the corner of Oak Ridge Turnpike and Florida Avenue. Pictured above in December 2016 are owner Leslie Agron, left; employee Dave Hetes, second from left; Bill Heavilin, right; and Lore Heavilin, second from right. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

A Sears Hometown Store has opened in Oak Ridge. The store is at 142 Fairbanks Road, near the corner of Oak Ridge Turnpike and Florida Avenue.

Sears Hometown Store will celebrate its grand opening on Friday, March 17, and Saturday, March 18. During the grand opening, customers can enjoy an additional discount of 10 percent off almost everything in the store* plus special giveaways, including a $10 gift card for the first 20 customers on Friday, March 17.

Unlike most retail concepts, Sears Hometown Stores combine the value, selection, and services associated with larger retail stores, but they are owned and operated by a member of the local community, a press release said.

“As a native Oak Ridger, I am very happy to be bringing Sears back to Oak Ridge,” said Sears Hometown Store owner Leslie Agron. [Read more…]

Sears Hometown Store expected to be open for Christmas shopping

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Sears Hometown Store Under Construction July 2016

Leslie Agron, an Oak Ridge resident and owner of Sears Hometown Store, is pictured above at the site of the new store, which is expected to open this fall on Fairbanks Road. (Photo credit: Fred Riffle of SHOS)

 

The new Sears Hometown Store on Fairbanks Road is expected to be open in plenty of time for Christmas shopping, according to the owner, Oak Ridge resident Leslie Agron.

The new Sears Hometown Store is being built even as the former Sears department store is being demolished at the former Oak Ridge Mall.

Visible construction activity on the roof at the new Sears Hometown Store, which is at 142 Fairbanks Road, was scheduled to start last week.

The store was announced in May, and it will be a free store pick-up site for many items on Sears.com, Agron said. [Read more…]

Mall demolition begins with ceremonial groundbreaking, knocking down of wall

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Main Street Oak Ridge Groundbreaking July 20 2016

Demolition of the former Oak Ridge Mall began Wednesday, July 20, 2016, with a ceremonial groundbreaking and the knocking down of a wall near the former Goody’s store, starting construction on a 58-acre mixed-use retail development known as Main Street Oak Ridge. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 7 p.m.

Demolition of the former Oak Ridge Mall began Wednesday with a ceremonial groundbreaking and the knocking down of a wall near the former Goody’s store, starting construction on a 58-acre mixed-use retail development known as Main Street Oak Ridge.

Demolition could last three months, and the construction of two new stores, T.J. Maxx and Dick’s Sporting Goods, could start where the former Sears building is in October. New stores could open in the spring of 2017.

Officials, business representatives, and the community celebrated with a groundbreaking ceremony on Wednesday. About 300 or more people attended. After the groundbreaking on a hot, sunny summer afternoon, those celebrating, including children and adults, had a chance to spray graffiti on part of the old mall as a fundraiser for the renovation of Blankenship Field.

Main Street Oak Ridge is now the largest multi-tenant commercial retail project in the city, said Parker Hardy, president of the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce. [Read more…]

City to discuss site plans for Panda Express, TownePlace Suites on Thursday

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Ruby-Tuesday-Panda-Express-July-15-2016 1

Oak Ridge officials will discuss site plans for two more new businesses on Thursday: a Panda Express restaurant and TownePlace Suites by Marriott, a hotel. The Panda Express would be on part of the property that was once home to a Ruby Tuesday restaurant, pictured above on Friday, July 15, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 9:20 a.m. July 17.

Oak Ridge officials will discuss site plans for two more new businesses on Thursday. The first is Panda Express, a restaurant, and the second is TownePlace Suites by Marriott, a hotel.

There have now been more than a dozen new businesses announced in Oak Ridge so far this year.

The Panda Express, a fast casual Chinese restaurant, would be at the site of the former Ruby Tuesday restaurant on South Illinois Avenue, in front of Walmart and next to Comfort Inn. The developer wants to take the property and divide it into two parcels, with the Panda Express on one lot and possibly two to three retail stores in one building on the other.

The four-story TownPlace Suites would be on 2.6 acres between East Main Street and Rutgers Avenue on the south side of Wilson Street. That property is on the northeast side of Main Street Oak Ridge, near JCPenney at the former Oak Ridge Mall. [Read more…]

Sears Hometown Store opening this fall in Oak Ridge

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A new Sears Hometown Store will open in Oak Ridge this fall, a press release said. The store will be located at 142 Fairbanks Road.

“We are delighted to have local business owner and resident Leslie Agron and his team serving customers in Oak Ridge and the surrounding communities,” said Mike Jones, Region Development Manager—Sears Hometown Stores. “We are especially excited to be a part of the Oak Ridge retail community and to be able to bring back the Sears name and products to this area. We also appreciate the partnership with R&R Properties and others in the community who have worked diligently to get this project going.”

Rick Chinn of R&R Properties said he is excited about the project.

“We worked very closely with Leslie and the corporate folks from Sears to find just the right location in this market that would fit the needs of the required store layout,” Chinn said in the press release. [Read more…]

Sponsored: Sears Hometown and Outlet Stores seeks Oak Ridge area entrepreneur

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Sears Hometown Store Seeks Oak Ridge Entrepreneur

Sears Hometown and Outlet Stores Inc. is providing Oak Ridge area investors the opportunity to own and operate their own Sears Hometown Store.

“We’re looking for a highly motivated member of the Oak Ridge community who wants to operate a successful business and is customer-service oriented,” said Mike Jones, regional development manager for Sears Hometown Stores. “This is an outstanding opportunity for a dedicated individual to participate in the growth of one of America’s hottest retailers.”

Sears Hometown Stores typically occupy between 7,500 and 9,000 square feet of space and offer a wide-selection of top appliance brands such as Kenmore®, Maytag®, KitchenAid®, Whirlpool®, Bosch®, Frigidaire®, and GE®, plus a large assortment of lawn and garden equipment, Craftsman® tools, fitness equipment, and mattresses, at guaranteed lowest prices, by the company’s price match policy.

Through in-store kiosks, Sears Hometown Stores are able to offer the local community the full breadth of selection available on Sears.com. Local repair service is offered as well as product protection agreements and the promise of “Satisfaction Guaranteed or Your Money Back.” [Read more…]