Familiar retailer in new place
By Dave Dreeszen Journal business Editor | Posted: Sunday, October 28, 2007
Employee Alyssa Jackson stocks shelves of Dickies blue jeans at Bomgaars' new Hamilton Boulevard store. (Staff photos by Jim Lee)
SIOUX CITY -- Joe Boyle warmly greeted a group of customers gathered in the tool department of Bomgaars' new Hamilton Boulevard store.
"Hi guys! How you doing?'' Boyle, an assistant store manager, asked. "Finding everything you need?
The men all responded affirmatively.
Boyle and other Bomgaars staff have been helping customers get acquainted with the layout of the newly-remodeled store since it opened Oct. 16. Like Rita Reynolds and her son, Jornell, who admitted feeling a "little lost'' when they entered for the first time last Tuesday. An employee directed them to the replacement washer and bolt they needed for a table leg, Reynolds said.
The transition from Bomgaars' longtime downtown store to its new digs in the former Cub Foods supermarket has gone smoothly, said Dave Meyer, the retail chain's general manager.
"So far, we've been very satisfied,'' Meyer said. "The customer traffic has been very good. We feel the merchandise fits in there better than at the other store, and, it's easier to shop.''
With 67,000 square feet, the Hamilton location at the Perry Creek Plaza is about the same size as the former downtown store at 333 Douglas St. But the new store offers a number of shopping-friendly features, like wider aisles, brighter lighting and better signage.
Sioux Cityan Joe Washburn, who described himself as a regular Bomgaars customer, liked what he saw during his first visit to the new store last Tuesday.
"I'm pretty satisfied,'' Washburn said. "It's really pretty easy to find things.''
The farm and home store, which employs about 50 people, carries the same mix of merchandise the family-owned retailer has become known for. More than 150,000 items are available, in departments ranging from clothing and housewares to automotive and tools to pet care and lawn and garden.
The new design groups together multiple items of major brands, including Dickies apparel and accessories, DeeZee tools and Husquarna chain saws, blowers and trimmers. With large colorful photos of each brand's merchandise, Meyer described the branded shops as "kind of a store within a store.'' More shops, including one for Dewalt power tools, will be added in the new future, he said.
John McKenna, manager of the Hamilton store, said he has heard nothing but positive comments about the new location. For many northside and westside customers, it's more convenient than the downtown store. In addition, it's much easier to find a parking spot, he said.
The Perry Creek Plaza, anchored by Bomgaars, offers three times more parking than the former site downtown.
Meyer noted Bomgaars reserves spaces for its customers during Bishop Heelan High School and Briar Cliff University football games at the adjacent Memorial Field. The retailer has worked with the two schools to also make parking available for their fans, said Meyer, who himself directed traffic at a recent game.
Besides added parking, Bomgaars' new location also offers nearly 20,000 square feet of outdoor storage space. When the two lots are completed, items will be stored on the side and in the rear of the store, making it "very easy for customers to drive through and load out,'' Meyer said.
Behind the building are nearly eight acres and multiple large loading docks. "Both the freight coming in and the freight going out is way better than what we had downtown,'' the general manager said.
Bomgaars' arrival has pumped new economic life into Perry Creek Plaza, which lost its largest anchor when Cub Foods closed in April 2006. A number of Bomgaars employees, for instance, have become regulars for lunch at the Pickerman's Soup & Sandwich Cafe franchise, Pickerman's owner Rick Motz said.
"Our sales are up. I'm sure some part of that is attributed to (Bomgaars),'' Motz said. "They're a great neighbor.''
A grand-opening celebration for Bomgaars' new Perry Creek Plaza store concludes today. During the celebration, the retailer is serving hot dogs, giving away prizes and offering special deals on merchandise.
The new store's hours are 8 to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.
By the Numbers
67,000 -- No. of square feet of space in Bomgaars' new store at 1732 Hamilton Blvd.
50 -- No. of employees at Hamilton store.
1944 -- Year company founder William H. Bomgaars opened first store in downtown Sioux City.
44 -- No. of stores today in Bomgaars chain.
150,000 -- No. of products Bomgaars carries in its stores.
3 -- States --- Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota -- where Bomgaars operates.
00 -- square feet in Bomgaars' new Hamilton Boulevard store
"Hi guys! How you doing?'' Boyle, an assistant store manager, asked. "Finding everything you need?
The men all responded affirmatively.
Boyle and other Bomgaars staff have been helping customers get acquainted with the layout of the newly-remodeled store since it opened Oct. 16. Like Rita Reynolds and her son, Jornell, who admitted feeling a "little lost'' when they entered for the first time last Tuesday. An employee directed them to the replacement washer and bolt they needed for a table leg, Reynolds said.
The transition from Bomgaars' longtime downtown store to its new digs in the former Cub Foods supermarket has gone smoothly, said Dave Meyer, the retail chain's general manager.
"So far, we've been very satisfied,'' Meyer said. "The customer traffic has been very good. We feel the merchandise fits in there better than at the other store, and, it's easier to shop.''
With 67,000 square feet, the Hamilton location at the Perry Creek Plaza is about the same size as the former downtown store at 333 Douglas St. But the new store offers a number of shopping-friendly features, like wider aisles, brighter lighting and better signage.
Sioux Cityan Joe Washburn, who described himself as a regular Bomgaars customer, liked what he saw during his first visit to the new store last Tuesday.
"I'm pretty satisfied,'' Washburn said. "It's really pretty easy to find things.''
The farm and home store, which employs about 50 people, carries the same mix of merchandise the family-owned retailer has become known for. More than 150,000 items are available, in departments ranging from clothing and housewares to automotive and tools to pet care and lawn and garden.
The new design groups together multiple items of major brands, including Dickies apparel and accessories, DeeZee tools and Husquarna chain saws, blowers and trimmers. With large colorful photos of each brand's merchandise, Meyer described the branded shops as "kind of a store within a store.'' More shops, including one for Dewalt power tools, will be added in the new future, he said.
John McKenna, manager of the Hamilton store, said he has heard nothing but positive comments about the new location. For many northside and westside customers, it's more convenient than the downtown store. In addition, it's much easier to find a parking spot, he said.
The Perry Creek Plaza, anchored by Bomgaars, offers three times more parking than the former site downtown.
Meyer noted Bomgaars reserves spaces for its customers during Bishop Heelan High School and Briar Cliff University football games at the adjacent Memorial Field. The retailer has worked with the two schools to also make parking available for their fans, said Meyer, who himself directed traffic at a recent game.
Besides added parking, Bomgaars' new location also offers nearly 20,000 square feet of outdoor storage space. When the two lots are completed, items will be stored on the side and in the rear of the store, making it "very easy for customers to drive through and load out,'' Meyer said.
Behind the building are nearly eight acres and multiple large loading docks. "Both the freight coming in and the freight going out is way better than what we had downtown,'' the general manager said.
Bomgaars' arrival has pumped new economic life into Perry Creek Plaza, which lost its largest anchor when Cub Foods closed in April 2006. A number of Bomgaars employees, for instance, have become regulars for lunch at the Pickerman's Soup & Sandwich Cafe franchise, Pickerman's owner Rick Motz said.
"Our sales are up. I'm sure some part of that is attributed to (Bomgaars),'' Motz said. "They're a great neighbor.''
A grand-opening celebration for Bomgaars' new Perry Creek Plaza store concludes today. During the celebration, the retailer is serving hot dogs, giving away prizes and offering special deals on merchandise.
The new store's hours are 8 to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.
By the Numbers
67,000 -- No. of square feet of space in Bomgaars' new store at 1732 Hamilton Blvd.
50 -- No. of employees at Hamilton store.
1944 -- Year company founder William H. Bomgaars opened first store in downtown Sioux City.
44 -- No. of stores today in Bomgaars chain.
150,000 -- No. of products Bomgaars carries in its stores.
3 -- States --- Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota -- where Bomgaars operates.
00 -- square feet in Bomgaars' new Hamilton Boulevard store
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