Bob’s Discount Furniture celebrated its grand opening in Riverhead today with a ribbon cutting and the presentation of checks totaling $10,000 to local schools.
Company founder Bob Kaufman was not present for the Riverhead event, attending instead the grand opening of another Bob’s store in Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania. That prompted Riverhead Supervisor Sean Walter to joke about how disappointed he was.
“I was excited to take a selfie with Bob,” Walter said after officials snipped the red satin ribbon outside the Route 58 store this morning. “I feel like Bob is my neighbor,” Walter said.
“I want you to know that you’re standing in the fastest-growing town in Suffolk County,” Walter told a robust crowd of Bob’s employees on hand for the opening day. “Riverhead had a growth rate of 3.66 percent last year,” Walter said, referring to the town’s tax base increase. “No other town in Suffolk County comes close to that.”
Walter said Riverhead’s national chain stores are top performers, because of Route 58’s location drawing shoppers from all over the region.
“We have the number one Home Depot on Long Island, the number one Petco. Riverhead’s Tanger is number one in the chain. With the help of the folks in Riverhead and surrounding communities, we will do our best to make this the number one store in your chain,” he said, to enthusiastic applause.
“We welcome you to Riverhead and wish you much success,” the supervisor said.
Cathy Poulin, director of outreach and public relations for the 53-store privately owned furniture chain, presented checks of $2,500 each to representatives of St. Isidore School and McGann-Mercy High School, as well as $1,000 each to Aquebogue and Roanoke Avenue elementary schools, Pulaski Street School, Riverhead Middle School and Riverhead High School.
Kaufman has been supporting schools and charitable organizations in every community where it does business since he founded the company in 1991, Poulin said. The company donates more than $2 million per year through its charitable foundation.
The 23,000-square-foot Riverhead store will employ about 45 people, store manager Crystal Merriman said after the ceremonies. It is the Connecticut-based chain’s fifth store on Long Island and its second in Suffolk County. It has locations in 11 states across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic.
Inside the store this morning, tall stacks of bright yellow T-shirts and an array of plastic water bottles waited to be given away to customers. There will be a balloon clown and face painter at the store from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Thursday through Sunday this weekend. Appearances are scheduled by former Giants Joe Morris and Sean Landeta on Saturday from 1 to 3 p.m. and Stephen Baker and Jeff Feagles on Sunday from 1 to 3 p.m.
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