Christmas Tree Shops andThat! Opens in Riverhead

Just in time for the holidays Christmas Tree Shops andThat! has opened its doors on Route 58 in Riverhead.

The store will offer bargains year-round, according to store reps, including seasonal items, home furnishings, housewares, food, gifts, and paper goods.

Special holiday store hours are 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. 

“Christmas Tree Shops has been a New England staple for 40-plus years,” said Christmas Tree Shops president Todd Johnson. “Customers are used to the quirky name and count on us throughout the year for everything from gifts to grills to dish detergent. As we grow into new markets, we are excited to introduce customers to our unexpected merchandise mix and true value prices. Shopping our stores is a thrill as customers wander the aisles discovering bargain after bargain. Delighted shoppers find they want to go home with this, and that. . . and that. . . and that."

The store joins others in the new shopping center, including Dick's Sporting Goods and Five Below, which held grand openings recently.

Development began on the project in 2010; other shops set to open include Buffalo Wild Wings, ALDI, and Starbucks. 

“We are honored that so many major retailers want to make Riverhead their home,” Riverhead Town Supervisor Sean Walter said. “These projects will benefit the residents of Riverhead in the form of tax revenue, economic development, and job creation, allowing us keep local taxes in check.”

There are currently two other major retail developments underway along Route 58 in the Town of Riverhead, Costco at The Shops at Riverhead and Super Walmart.

“We were able to move this project forward in record time because of the preparation and cooperation of the Town of Riverhead,” said Martin G. Berger, managing principal at Saber Real Estate Advisors. “They already had the existing zoning, traffic, and environmental studies in place and their assistance, knowledge, and support truly helped to make this project a reality in short order.”

With 90 percent of the properties pre-leased, the Town of Riverhead could anticipate that the real estate tax revenue would increase from roughly $55,000 per year to over $600,000 a year, Saber reps said. Additionally, the new stores – and the construction of the buildings – are expected to bring hundreds of jobs to the area.

“Being able to benefit the residents and the community – both from an economic standpoint, as well as a consumer standpoint – was extremely important to us,” Berger said.

“We would like to thank Saber Realty for working cooperatively with the adjoining community and by addressing the concerns of local residents during the review process of this application,” Walter said. “Being a good neighbor will certainly add to the success of the stores that will soon be opening at this location."

To that end, Saber erected a sound barrier between the shopping center and Glenwood Village, a retirement community located behind the development, to help mitigate noise from the site and from the Raceway. 

The remaining stores will open during the first quarter of 2014.