SANFORD — Marshalls, a clothing and home fashions retailer owned by TJX Companies, Inc, will close its location at the Center for Shopping in April, a company spokeswoman said Saturday. The store will relocate to Rochester, New Hampshire.
It was initially unclear how many employees will be affected by the move; company officials said they will provide that answer later.
Rumors about the impending closure began to surface in Sanford Thursday evening. On Friday afternoon TJX Companies, Inc. corporate communications manager Bethany Crocetti, in response to inquiries from city officials and the Journal Tribune, said she was unaware of any plans regarding the Sanford store.
On Saturday morning, the TJK Companies, Inc. vice president of global communications, Doreen Thompson, had a different response:
“Upon further review, we regret that our response to you yesterday was misinformed,” Thompson said in an email to the city and the newspaper. “We anticipate closing our Sanford (Maine) Marshalls sometime in early April and relocating it to Rochester. We are continuously evaluating our store locations and this decision reflects that approach.”
City officials expressed disappointment at news of the closure.
“Our first concern is for the local employees,” said Mayor Tom Cote. “We hope they have jobs they can go to. Hopefully, they find a place to blend in with the organization.”
Sanford Regional Economic Growth Council director James Nimon outlined the city’s quick reaction to the closure rumors that had surfaced Thursday – reaching out to the company, obtaining the initial positive response and relaying it to city officials and others. Then, on Saturday, the city learned from Thompson that the store will be closing.
“We couldn’t be more disappointed with this second wave of news and asked to speak or meet with the company decision-maker regarding what we believe is a bad decision, given the positive economic trends in the community,” said Nimon in a prepared statement. “The growth council will continue to pursue this step.”
Nimon went on to emphasize the importance of shopping locally.
“There may be a tendency for all of us to take our franchise businesses for granted, until we think of our city without them,” Nimon said. “ Keeping our money local will inevitably lead to more retail options and a stronger Sanford economy. The growth council will attempt a Marshalls conversation, but we are also committed to work with the landlord to help secure another anchor tenant for the Center for Shopping. We know we speak for the city and many citizens when we say our resolve only got stronger this (Saturday) morning.”
Cote said Marshalls is preparing to leave Sanford at a time when the city is rebounding – and pointed out that work will commence soon a new high school and technical center that will be “just steps away,” from the Center for Shopping. The school will educate about 1,400 young people.
Marshalls is among several off-price retailers operated by TJX Companies, Inc. in the United States. Others include T. J. Maxx, which has a location in Biddeford, HomeGoods and Sierra Trading Post. Headquartered in Massachusetts, TJX Companies, Inc. operates stores in Canada, the United Kingdom and Europe.
Thompson said in addition to moving the Sanford store to Rochester, a combined Marshalls and HomeGoods is expected to open in Scarborough in March.
— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324-4444 (local call in Sanford) or 282-1535, ext. 327 or twells@journaltribune.com.
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