March 29, 2024
Business

Ellsworth Lowe’s to open Saturday Date pushed up by two months

ELLSWORTH – For the last several weeks, a sign outside the parking lot entrance to the recently constructed Lowe’s retail store in Ellsworth has enticed passers-by with the words “opening soon.”

Just in time for the new year, that sign is ready to come down.

Ellsworth’s newest retailer announced last week that it will open its doors to the public at 6 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 5.

Lowe’s, the North Carolina-based company and second-largest home improvement retailer in the world, moved up its opening date in Ellsworth about two months.

“We’re always trying to open as quick as possible for our customers, and things went smoothly in Ellsworth,” said Maureen Rich, a public relations representative at Lowe’s headquarters in Mooresville, N.C.

Tim Striker, who was hired in November as the store’s manager, said he couldn’t wait to welcome customers.

“With the exception of all this snow, it’s been great,” Striker said Monday. “Anytime you open a new store it’s always a little crazy, but I’m excited. The builders and the town have been fantastic.”

J.J. Vaccaro Inc. of Somerville, Mass., finished construction of the 138,000-square-foot building in the fall, which includes an adjacent garden center. During the last month, employees have been busy stocking more than 40,000 items on rows and rows of shelves in anticipation of the opening.

The Ellsworth store will employ as many as 130 people from the area, Striker said, and about 60 percent of those hired will be full-time.

“We’re always looking to hire good people, but for the most part, we’re pretty well staffed right now,” he said, adding that people can inquire about employment at the store or online.

The new Lowe’s is located at 21 Kingsland Crossing, off High Street in downtown Ellsworth. It’s less than a quarter-mile from an existing Home Depot, as well as Acadia Crossing, a 26-store, 500,000-square-foot shopping center that will open later this year.

Additionally, a Lowe’s retail store is expected to open Feb. 1 in Brewer, about 25 miles from Ellsworth.

Auburn, Augusta, Biddeford, Brunswick, Portland, Presque Isle, Scarborough and Windham all have Lowe’s, and stores are planned for Bangor and Belfast as well.

Striker, who originally is from Pittsburgh, said he has been with Lowe’s for about three years and helped open stores in Brunswick and Biddeford.

Ellsworth, on the other hand, is relatively new, he admitted.

“I’ve started to learn a lot in the last few months,” he said. “But this is great area for development. It’s amazing how much Ellsworth is growing. We’re happy to provide another option for customers.”

Regular store hours in Ellsworth will be 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday.

erussell@bangordailynews.net

664-0524


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