MANHATTAN — When one discount retailer's door closes in Union Square, another one opens.
Burlington Coat Factory has inked a deal to take over the former home of the beloved bargain retailer Filene’s Basement, the company announced on Monday. It is scheduled to open this fall.
Filene’s left the three-story space at the south end of Union Square vacant late last year after its parent company, Sym’s, filed for bankruptcy and closed two dozen locations, including another Manhattan outpost on the Upper West Side.
That 92,000-square-foot retail spot will become Burlington’s flagship location in Manhattan. The 40-year-old company, which specializes in providing brand-name merchandise at deep, double-digit discounts, already has five other New York stores, in the Flatiron district, Brooklyn, The Bronx and Staten Island.
"We are looking at this location as an opportunity to showcase the immense breadth of merchandise we have to offer across multiple categories," said Thomas Kingsbury, Burlington president and CEO, in a statement.
Fred Hand, executive vice president of stores for Burlington, added that the new store is a key part of the chain’s national retail development, which includes plans to open more than 20 new locations this year.
"Union Square is a prime retail destination and we are thrilled to bring over 150 full- and part-time jobs to the neighborhood," Hand said.
