Ocean State Job Lot Officials Confirm Lease At Old Vernon KMart

VERNON, CT — Officials for Ocean State Job on Tuesday confirmed a lease agreement to open its newest store in the vacant KMart building in Vernon. It will become the 28th outlet in Connecticut for the Rhode Island-based discount retailer.

"We look forward to joining the local Vernon community and bringing new life to this vacant building and jobs to the area," said Paul Cox, director of store operations for Ocean State Job Lot.

The old KMart is located in a shopping plaza off Route 30 at 295 Hartford Turnpike. Ocean State Job Lot will occupy a 40,000 square feet — that's about half the space. Cox said the new store will create as many as 50 full-time and part-time jobs.

The initial plan was to start hiring in early 2020 and finish the building by the end of this year, but officials for the chain cautioned on the use of any specific timetable because of volatility related to the coronavirus pandemic.

Ocean State Job Lot officials did say a long-term lease has been signed with property owner CE Vernon II, LLC, based in Fairfield. A few vehicles were parked outside Tuesday and workers could be heard inside the building.

"This location makes sense for us. Its large footprint provides an enhanced in-store customer experience and will allow us to offer our customers a fantastic overall shopping experience," Cox said.

Cox said Ocean State Job Lot offers discounts by virtue of "opportunistic buying." Stores feature household goods, apparel, pet supplies, seasonal products like holiday items, gardening supplies, patio accessories and pool and beach supplies, kitchen and pantry "staples" and gourmet and international specialty foods.

About Ocean State Job Lot was founded in 1977 and currently has 139 stores in New England, New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania with about 5,600 employees. It boasts annual sales of approximately $725 million.

The KMart store in Vernon closed a year ago this month amid financial woes experience by its corporate parent, Sears Holdings. Town Fair Tire, the Ann & Hope curtain and bath outlet and a Salvation Army store currently anchor the plaza.