NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Staples in the downtown will close at the end of the year.
The closing, rumored since last week, has been confirmed by Staples, according to several media outlets. Calls to Staples corporate headquarters on Friday were not returned to iBerkshires.
The store opened in the newly refurbished Kmart building in 2006, along with Peebles department stores and North Adams [Garden] Cinemas. Since then, Oylmpia Sports, Planet Fitness and, most recently, a Sears Homestore were added.
Mayor Richard Alcombright said Thursday night that he had spoken with several Staples executives on how the office supply store could stay open but was told the bottom line was the reason. "It was losing money," he said, adding he did not believe the chain had announced anything yet.
Staples also has stores in Pittsfield and Bennington, Vt.
The closure will leave a hole in the Steeple City Plaza but Alcombright said owner Neil Ellis of First Hartford Corp. was "fairly confident he can get something in there pretty quick."
Ellis, contacted on Friday, declined to comment on Staples' plans. "I can tell you we have a waiting list for space," he said.
Other vacancies in the plaza, which includes the L-Shaped Mall, have filled fairly quickly. The former Movie Gallery and smaller adjacent space that had hosted several different businesses, including a kids' clothing store, is now occupied by the Dollar Store. The Fashion Bug, a mainstay for a quarter-century, was replaced by Label Shopper.
Only the old Kmart garden center seems difficult to fill.
Alcombright said signage to better highlight the plaza has been a discussion point but would likely not go forward until next year when the Hadley Overpass is completed. He said he had been assured the other tenants in the former Kmart were doing OK, including the movie theaters.
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Yes, I noticed the story was not doing much business. But where oh where will I be able to buy ink cartridges for my printer. Walmart doesn't carry the ones I need.
Editor: From what I've heard, Staples corporate has been encouraging online shopping over local bricks & mortar. So, I guess it's all your fault, Al. I Agree (13) - I Disagree (0)
Dear Editor,
This was a great answer! I'm still laughing!! You really put some smile in my horrible day I had......thank you!!
I like Staples. I thought it was in a good spot with the college being there as well. Hopefully something can fill the space. Applebee's or an Olive Garden would work for me :)
I too, am disappointed in the Staples store closing. However I do agree whole-heartedly with "Sad" above, and would LOVE to see an Applebee's or an Olive Garden here. I love the local restaurants/and their fare, however when I think of the people/teenagers that would benefit from jobs, AND how nice would it be to not have to drive a half hour to Pittsfield or an hour and a half to Albany?? John Barrett wouldn't have it, I'm hoping that Mayor Alcombright, and the rest of the city will consider all options.
Get real people, it closed because the city has no business to support it. Look at the downtown! With no real ecoomic plan by the Mayor Alcombright, and his failure to secure grant money for economic development, you will see more and more business leaving N.A. Resident taxpayers, get real and ready to open your wallets even more. What a shame as our tax bases dwindles...
Unfortantely,N.A doesn't have a population of more than 50,000.That is usually what most of these types of restaurants require.For them to even consider ,before opening a restaurant in a chosen area.
Unfortantely,N.A doesn't have a population of more than 50,000.That is usually what most of these types of restaurants require.For them to even consider ,before opening a restaurant in a chosen area.
I wonder how much the forward movement of the super WalMart had to do with this decision? The first of many I'm sure.
A important trend that the administration should be following. As quality name brand stores leave, cheap - China product driven stores - are their replacement.
Read the story in the "other" media. It has a statement from Staples, which says its profit based. They've been taking a loss on that store for five years.
I wonder how well the Bennington store does?considering the fact that their population in 2010 was 15,764 and N.A was in 2010 13,708.Ride up to Bennington,they have more stores than Adams,N.A, and Williamstown,put together.Yet there is no work up there and these stores manage to stay open!Why Is that?I would like to hear some feedback on this.
Not sure why so many people seem to see this as some Mom and Pop store that's been victimized by a chain (i.e. Walmart). Staples is a huge corporation and if it can't compete, it can't compete. I was surprised when they decided to open in this small city.
I had bought many items there over the years, but you can only buy so much, and obviously not enough. Too bad. Entirely different, but has a Christmas Tree Shop ever been considered as an addition to the area?
Once again....someone blaming the mayor...good god, move on already. As for your comment about "opening your wallets goes, COMMUNITIES THAT WANT NICE THINGS, PAY FOR THEM...they aren't gifts!!!! There are only so many grants, state handouts, and free monies available. Nice job trying to make an under performing Staples store, political.....UGH! Why don't you move to another community if all you do is complain about this one?
Staples was hardly ever busy. Whenever I was in there, they were dead. A chain store like that can't survive in that kind of climate, and neither could a Mom and Pop store. Peebles is also empty much of the time, and I fear they may be next, despite the Mayor claiming all other retailers there are doing fine. Olive Garden won't open unless they also open a Red Lobster nearby, it's their corporate plan, and North Adams is too small for such a combo. Even Pittsfield couldn't handle it - the Red Lobster closed there after it was determined an Olive Garden wouldn't make it (though 99 seems to do just fine in the same spot). I love the Christmas Tree Shops idea, but they primarily open in large malls these days - but if one came, what a coup it would be, as they are so popular. If for some reason Peebles closes, I'd love to see Price Chopper drop their old State Road location, which is very outdated and the property size is limiting, and relocate a larger store to downtown. That would be a big draw for the other stores in the same plaza. And they could better compete against the Super Walmart.
Editor: Individual perceptions are interesting. I've thought Peebles was doing OK because one or two others have been in there when I have; often I've had to wait in line, albeit a short one.
Olive Garden and applebees wont be coming here at least not to that location. Olive Garden is comming into berkshire county and it will most likely be in the Lenox shops. So dont look for it in north county. Most retail restaurant chains will not come into north county at least not yet because there is nothing here. Get a shopping district here and maybe then you will see it but not until then.
It's all about population, folks. Whether you're a national corporation making a decision based on population (we're not big enough for most), or a mom and pop store, you have to have volume! Movie theaters, clothing stores, pizza parlors ... you have to have traffic. We need more people, pure and simple. Well, no, it's not that simple.
I can only wonder if it is because people from Pownal and north of Bennington shop in the Bennington stores where as in North Adams, Adams, etc.. people take the drive to Pittsfield.
@ customer I (from Adams)usually take the drive to Bennington for things like home depot etc. Now that Staples will be leaving, I will do the same for that store. I try to avoid Pittsfield at all costs actually.
Just look what the Mayor has done ;Nothing' Two more years of high taxes, know new jobs, now business are going out, and the people wanted him, "Crazy" he only needs another two years and he can retire thats his skin in the game. He's in warm Az. today and the hell with the people freezing in the 24 degrees, what a game.
So the mayor taking a vacation over Thanksgiving week and a national chain deciding to close an under-performing store are somehow related in your world? North Adams isn't Rome and Alcombright isn't Nero. You said "crazy", I didn't!
People around here like things cheap.Maybe a Christmas Tree Shop could come in.The Dollar Tree seems to be doing well so im sure that store would definitively profit.No more long trips to New York to get their great deals.
I know the last time my fiancee and I traveled to the N.A. Staples that it was very small compaired to other's that we have been in, I know for a fact that Bennington Store Is alway's busy, I used to work there over 10 yrs ago and they were always busy.
And still are. As for Dollar Tree with today's economy and from family I know in Williamstown, N.a., and Adam's, and Cheshire, it would be a huge help!
I know That Dollar Tree in Greenfield closed the beginning of the month because of their lease not being renewed, with hope's of moving to a new location.
I know that Dollar Tree In Brattleboro, Bennington, & Pittsfield are always busy so this would be wonderful for North Adams to bring Dollar Tree to the area.
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