Store Hours Renys Map Columbia Carhartt Woolrich Sale Items! Just In F.A.Q. Jobs at Renys In the News		In the works - Renys Tuesday, March 3, 2009 BELFAST (March 3, 09): Mention the expansion under way at Renys and you're likely to hear "What expansion?" Sure the inventory is crammed into one half of the store and the other half is shrouded in a construction tent. Home furnishings have been moved to Renys "annex," a storefront next to Bell the Cat. But the major work is being done out of sight in the space between Renys and Olympia Sports. When Renys tears down the office spaces that now separate the store from the 14,000-square-foot expansion, the store will double in size. Overlooking the addition from atop Renys old offices, which will eventually be removed. (Photo by Ethan Andrews) Renys expansion is invisible from the parking lot but it will effectively double the size of the store. (Photo by Ethan Andrews) A corner of the old storage and office spaces that will be removed at the end of renovations. (Photo by Ethan Andrews) John Reny of the regional department store chain said the revamped store should be completed in April. The extra space, he said, is not so much to have more merchandise as to make more space for the current stock. "The whole thing is to make it a better shopping experience for our customers," he said, explaining that Renys installed new flooring and lighting in the old store before breaking ground on the expansion. In the reconfigured store, the aisles will be wider, the registers will be relocated to the new section of the store, the offices will be moved to the back of the store, and there will be new bathrooms. Reny cited the company's Bridgton store, which was made over in a similar fashion, describing it as a "tremendous success." An overview showing the existing store in yellow with the expansion in blue and pink. (Image courtesy of Renys) Cheryl Carter of Searsmont shops in Renys annex, where the store's home furnishings inventory has been temporarily relocated. The annex is next to Bell the Cat. (Photo by Ethan Andrews) Renys has not closed during renovations and plans to remain open until construction is complete. To accommodate some interior renovations, stock had to be moved within the store or to the annex. (Photo by Ethan Andrews) A plate of cookies welcomes customers who find their way to the store's temporary annex. (Photo by Ethan Andrews) Despite reports on a flagging economy, Reny is optimistic about the larger store. "There's not a lot going on out there but we're pulling ahead," he said, adding the company has done pretty well this year. "Someone has to be optimistic," he said. "You look around and things aren't the greatest but people aren't begging in the streets." Excerpt From: Village Soup, March 2009 Web Specials  ||  Feature Brands  ||  Contact Renys  ||  Our Locations  ||  Job Opportunities Gift Cards  ||  History  ||  In the News  ||  Just In  ||  Email Signup  ||  Site Map  ||  Home Page R.H. Reny, Inc. 731 Route 1 Newcastle, Maine 04553 Phone: (207)563-3177 Fax: (207)563-5681 E-Mail: feedback@renys.com