West Marine Store
West Marine continued it’s rollout of large-format retail marine stores with the launch of it’s newest facility in Old Saybrook, Connecticut. Located on Long Island Sound, the store will carry some 20,000 pieces of gear that cover a wide range of boating lifestyles, but a highlight is the Fishing Shack with a large assortment of saltwater equipment, including locally popular Hogy Lures. The store also boasts a large selection of kayaks and paddleboards, along with infatables—all suited either for use on the ocean or on the region’s many lakes and rivers.
Ground was broken for the 25,000 square-foot building, located on Boston Post Road, last summer. Though already doing a brisk business, the grand opening occurred April 12, with evening festivities including a Cruising for a Cause charity night to benefit Mystic Seaport, Sea-Legs, the Connecticut Marine Trades Association, Pettipaug Yacht Club Sailing Adademy, Leukemia Cup Regatta, and the Maritime Education Network.
Noted West Marine CEO Geoff Eisenberg, the store, though part of a national chain, also carries gear of local interest, tailoring the selection, at least in part, to what customers ask for when they come in to shop.
The Old Saybrook store will employ 40. A company fact sheets points out that collectively, employees have 740 years of boating, fishing, and sailing experience, and have logged over 160,000 nautical miles. The store will also serve as a Port Supply wholesale hub to service regional marine businesses (click here for more photos).
The company will open its next Flagship in Clear Lake, Texas.
