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Sunday, 09/30/2007 9:54:08 AM

Sunday, September 30, 2007 9:54:08 AM

Retailer eyes new location.
From: Watertown Daily Times (Watertown, NY) Date: May 26, 2006

Byline: Cory Nealon

May 26--Hacketts Department Store may be expanding into Watertown.

The Ogdensburg-based company is applying for state tax breaks to move into the former Ames store in Watertown Center, the former Northland Plaza, State Street.

"We have been approached by Hacketts," said R. Michael N'Dolo, a consultant from Camoin Associates, Saratoga Springs, who administers the Watertown Empire Zone.

Norman V. Garrelts, the company's president and chief executive officer, said that while a deal hasn't been reached, Hacketts is "strongly considering" the State Street location.

He said Watertown's bustling retail life, which has been buoyed by the Fort Drum expansion, piqued the company's interest in the city.

"Watertown is an awfully active market," he said. "I read the paper, and it seems that a new retailer is coming in every day."

The company will decide whether to go ahead with the Watertown store sometime within the next two weeks. Mr. N'Dolo said the store could open as early as October, though Mr. Garrelts declined to speculate.

The company, which dates back to 1830, has stores in Ogdensburg, Canton, Massena and Potsdam. The Watertown location would be its first outside St. Lawrence County.

A mainstay in Ogdensburg, Hacketts sells high-end clothing brands, crafts, decorations, kitchenware and other household items and some hardware. The company has expanded its reach recently, pairing with Giant Tiger Family Discount Store, Ottawa, to open side-by-side stores in Potsdam in 2003. The Canadian retailer also occupies space in the Ogdensburg store.

Mr. Garrelts declined to say if Giant Tiger is considering a move to Watertown.

In January 2004 in Potsdam, both companies were hiring employees at similar wages: $5.50 for part-timers to $6.50 for supervisors. Hacketts hired 68 employees and Giant Tiger hired 40.

The Watertown location would fill the largest vacancy in the plaza, which has been renamed Watertown Center under its new owner, Soggs Commercial Properties Inc., New Hartford.

Peter L. Clough, who chairs the Empire Zone's administrative board, said Hacketts would be a welcome addition to the city's east side, which is often overlooked in favor of Route 3 on the west side.

Soggs' president, Randolph B. "Randy" Soggs, was unavailable for comment. However, since buying the plaza, the company has retained all existing tenants and brought in Affordable Furniture, Utica, to the former A&P Food Store. It also signed deals with Freihofer's Bakery Outlet and Real Deals Dollar Store. Both opened stores in the plaza.

To see more of the Watertown Daily Times, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.wdt.net.

Copyright (c) 2006, Watertown Daily Times, N.Y.

Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.

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