Sue Rotella was looking forward to doing some shopping as she stood in line to check out the new T.J. Maxx in Chapel View on Sept. 8.
“I love T.J. Maxx,” she said. “They have the best prices.”
By the time the doors opened at 8 a.m., more than 50 people were waiting to enter.
The new store at Chapel View replaces the T.J. Maxx in the Cranston Parkade on Garfield Avenue. The store will add approximately 60 full- and part-time jobs to the area, although employees of the Garfield Avenue store will fill some of those positions.
“We are pleased to provide a new store in Cranston, delivering value and an exciting selection of merchandise to serve the needs of customers,” Richard Sherr, president of T.J. Maxx, said in a statement.
After presenting a $5,000 check to Deborah Debare of the Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence, store manager Carlos Laires joined Cranston Mayor Allan Fung and Rotella to cut the ribbon and officially open the store.
“We’re excited to see the line of shoppers waiting to enter the store today,” Fung said. “Chapel View is a great, central location, and we’re happy to have T.J. Maxx be part of Cranston’s Chapel View and Garden City shopping experience.”
By 8:30 a.m., the parking lot was full and customers filled the store, pushing carts carrying the water bottles and reusable bags given away for the occasion while examining dresses, handbags, and children’s Halloween costumes. The new T.J. Maxx offers 19,908 square feet of merchandise, including clothing, accessories, jewelry, beauty, and pet products. The Chapel View location has a small section of home accessories. Unlike the Bald Hill Road location in Warwick, the store does not include a HomeGoods.
Kelly Coates, senior vice president of the Carpionato Group, which developed Chapel View, praised the mayor for policies that make retail development possible in Cranston. He said there is more in store for Chapel View, both within the current footprint and at the property currently occupied by Citizens Bank on Sockanosset Cross Road.
Rotella added items to her cart as she wandered through the store, find toys and a blanket for her grandnieces and grandnephews.
“I like to do my Christmas shopping early,” she said.
By Mary Johnson
Cranston Herald