Pilgrim plans third Conn. store
By Clint Engel -- Furniture Today, September 14, 2009
MANCHESTER, Conn. — Pilgrim Furniture City says it will open a third, 72,000-square-foot store here in February, taking advantage of a favorable leasing market and filling out its coverage in the state.
The Southington, Conn.-based midpriced retailer, with stores in Southington and Milford, Conn., is taking space now occupied by a VF Outlet store in the Plaza at Burr Corners shopping center.
The store, comparable in size to Pilgrim's other showrooms, will be about 20 miles east of its Southington location and “it really would round out the state,” said President Mike Albert.
He would not disclose the investment, but said it includes a new roof and heating and air conditioning system. Pilgrim is hoping the store will do more than $10 million in annual sales, he said, a nice boost for the company listed in Furniture/Today's Beyond the Top 100 report with estimated sales of more than $30 million.
The new store will feature Pilgrim's current assortment. Key suppliers include Ashley, Legacy Classic, Craftmaster, England, Lane, Southern Motion, Warehouse M, Jofran, Aspenhome, Klaussner, Simmons and Serta.
Albert said Pilgrim's sales haven't suffered as badly as those of some other retailers during this recession because the company has remained aggressive on pricing and maintained “first class” customer service, leading to repeat business.
“I'm optimistic about business,” he said, adding that summer sales have been “very good and the figures to go up against last fall are very beatable.”
He also said Pilgrim is getting a “spectacular” lease deal in Manchester.
“In this economy you can really get some nice leasing or purchasing opportunities,” he said. “I think our shopping center is very aggressively trying to fill its spaces with some quality stores.”
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