Located next to Big 5 Sporting Goods since 2008, the Sears store in Tooele City has a new location, a new owner and a new staff.
Sears opened in the former Sweat Fitness building, north of Veteran’s Memorial Park on the corner of Vine and Main Streets, on June 22.
The new location will help Sears to grow its sales, according to Brad Dastrup, who took ownership of the store on July 1.
“The new location is three times bigger than the old place,” he said. “That will give us space to display more items and bring in more merchandise to sell right off the floor.”
The rent was also lower, he added.
Dastrup has owned the Sears store in Richville for three years. When he heard from his district manager that the Tooele store was for sale, he jumped at the opportunity to expand his retail operations into Tooele.
“I’ve built the Richville store into one of the top sales stores in the district,” he said. “Along with a new staff and more inventory, we can build sales here in Tooele.”
Customer service and establishing trust in the community are the keys to building a good store, Dastrup said.
Sears occupies the front of the old Sweat Fitness building and a flooring company will move into the back part of the building.
“We will share a common entrance from the parking lot,” Dastrup said.
It took Dastrup a week to train his new employees and move from the old location. He is still waiting for the large Sears sign to be moved from the old store to his new front door on Main Street.
“Although we don’t have the sign up yet, people seem to be finding us,” Dastrup said.
The exterior of the store received a face-lift with a new rock and stucco finish. The interior is freshly painted and new tiles were placed on the ceiling. A new floor covering will be installed soon as well, he said.
Dastrup, who currently lives Richville, will soon have a home in Tooele County.
“I’m planning on being in Tooele half the time and Richville the other half,” he said. “So, I’ll be finding a home here soon.”