Ocean State Job Lot buys former Toys ‘R’ Us on Boston Road

Feb. 19, 2020 | G. Michael Dobbs
news@thereminder.com

SPRINGFIELD – A longtime retailer in the city is expanding with a new location, creating more jobs.

Ocean State Job Lot will close its 1534 Boston Road location and re-open in the former Toys R Us building at 1686 Boston Road, which they purchased. The new location will be larger – 42,700 square feet – nearly double the size of the former location.

A spokesperson for the Rhode island-based chain explained to Reminder Publishing that all of the employees at the former Boston Road location would be retained and 30 jobs will be created at the new location.

The reason for the move is “to improve the customer experience with more room to shop, plus they were leasing their former location and OSJL purchased the new store.”

The company also maintains a location in the Liberty Street Shopping Plaza and it will not be affected by the addition of the new, larger store the spokesperson said.

In a prepared statement, Paul Cox, director of Store Operations for Ocean State Job Lot, said, “We look forward to introducing the Springfield community to our bigger, better, brighter Ocean State Job Lot. We will continue to provide the value and selection our customers are accustomed to, but a whole lot more of it.”

The company describes itself as “founded in 1977, Ocean State Job Lot is a growing, privately held discount retail chain with 139 stores in New England, New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, approximately 5,600 employees, and annual sales of approximately $725 million. Job Lot sells brand name, first quality merchandise at closeout prices. Shoppers find an ever-changing array of household goods, apparel, pet supplies, seasonal products (holiday, gardening, patio, pool and beach supplies) and kitchen pantry staples at a fraction of their typical price. The company was named by Forbes Magazine as a 2017 and 2018 “Best Midsize Employer.”

John Conforti, chief financial officer, for the company, said, “At a time when many retailers are announcing store closings and layoffs, Ocean State Job Lot is proud to be relocating and expanding this Springfield store, creating new jobs and improving the shopping experience for our customers.”

Share this: