Aaron's opens 2,000th store

Clint Engel -- Furniture Today, October 8, 2012

BRONX, N.Y. - Rent-to own giant Aaron's opened its 2,000th store here in late September, part of a continuing aggressive strategy that it said will include more New York City stores.
     The company-owned 1,200-square-foot store on White Plains Road is the latest from the Atlanta-based company, which has added 345 stores - company-owned and franchised - and 2,200 jobs in the past three years, said Ron Allen, president and CEO.

A crowd watches Aaron’s Ron Allen, center left, holding ribbon, and former Yankees manager Joe Torre, center right, cut the ribbon at the Bronx store.
	Ken Butler, left, Aaron’s; artist Rossin; baseball’s Joe Torre; and Ron Allen, Aaron’s, with Rossin’s “Babe Ruth” oil on canvas painting. The portrait will be presented to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum.

     "We are pleased to extend this success into the Bronx, where we're excited to become an integral part of the community," he said, adding that the company will add more stores in the market over the next few years.
     During the grand opening event, Aaron's paid tribute to the community's love of baseball with special guest Joe Torre, a former manager of the New York Yankees and now Major League Baseball's executive vice president for baseball operations.
     Torre unveiled a Babe Ruth portrait that Aaron's will donate to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. The company commissioned the painting by acclaimed portrait artist Rossin. A replica of the painting will hang in the Bronx store.
     Aaron's also is donating to two area charities, including giving some $7,000 in furniture, electronics and appliances to the Joe Torre Safe at Home Foundation, "which educates to end the cycle of domestic violence and save lives," according to a release.
     Aaron's also presented a plaque to Eva Muriel, director of Parkside Community Center, which offers after-school programs to more than 100 Bronx children and teens. The presentation will acknowledge the company's pledge to renovate and restore the center over the next 12 months to include new appliances, electronics, furniture, carpeting, paint and landscaping.