Opening nears for Lowe's, Christmas Tree Shops [12/08/2007]

By Casey Conley

Two large additions to North Conway's retail landscape are set to open shortly.Christmas Tree Shops is completing construction on a 34,000-square-foot store in the Northway Plaza on Route 16 in North Conway. And Lowe's is planning to open before Christmas at the redeveloped Mountain Valley Mall site.An early-2008 opening is projected for the Christmas Tree Shops, said company spokesperson Michelle Watkins."We don't like to give specifics so nobody gets disappointed if it goes over," she said. Karen McGeorge, a district manager for Christmas Tree Shops stores, said the crews are working hard to get the interior and front facade completed. "Construction is still going on," she said. "It's going along great."Christmas Tree Shops, which is owned by Bed Bath and Beyond, operates 35 stores throughout the Northeast with many in northern New England. The company began in Yarmouthport, Mass., on Cape Cod and sells a wide variety of products including many non-holiday items. "It's a very eclectic mix. It is not totally focused on Christmas," Watkins said. Though she couldn't provide exact details, Watkins said the store will be looking to fill dozens of positions with a wide range of experience levels. "The positions we are interviewing for are cashiers, stocking and customer service," Watkins said. The company will host job fairs on Dec. 11 from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Dec. 12 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Green Granite Inn and Conference Center on Route 16, just across the street from the store. Less than a half-mile away, Lowe's is also looking forward to opening its doors. The Morrisville, N.C.-based home-improvement giant has set Dec. 22 as the opening of a 120,000-square-foot store located adjacent to JCPenney in the former Mountain Valley Mall complex. The store's parking lot has been packed recently as employees ready the store for business just before the end of the holiday gift-giving season. "We are stocking 32,000 different items to help customers build, improve and beautify their homes," said Abby Buford, a spokesperson for Lowe's.She said the new location has created 120 new jobs and represents a $12 million investment in the community. It will be the first Lowe's to open locally, but the 10th statewide and the latest to join 1,475 stores nationwide. Buford said the company is excited to serve customers living in the area. "We are excited to be a part of the community in North Conway," Buford said.