Where Christmas Tree Shop used to be on Quaker Lane in Warwick was the place to be on Saturday if you are an Ocean State Job Lot shopper.  

And that is exactly where best friends Linda Staudt and Judy Vekeman were on Saturday morning. The two Warwick residents have been best friends for more than 30 years. 

“We made plans to come together,” said Staudt, while waiting to checkout and holding a new winter hat and glove set. “She’s picked out her Christmas gift from me to her.” 

The Warwick store’s grand opening was number one for customer count on Saturday across Job Lot’s entire chain of 158 stores.  

“This is going to be the one I come to,” said Vekeman, as she waited with Staudt to checkout. “There’s been excitement for this new store to open and it will help strengthen our economy. It’s good for the city of Warwick.” 

Susan Schlais, a former Christmas Tree Shop employee and now a lead merchandiser for Job Lot, was called in from the Gales Ferry store in Connecticut two weeks ago to prepare for the opening.  

“It’s bittersweet to be here but this opening is great and comes full circle for me,” Schlais said. “There are a lot of moving parts to open, but Therese (Sloane, store team leader) has put together a well-oiled machine.”   

 
The new Quaker Lane location marks the opening of Job Lot’s 17th store in Rhode Island in the former Christmas Tree Shop’s space. The store is the third and largest OSJL location in Warwick, offering nearly 39,000 square feet of retail shopping space and new job opportunities for the community.  As part of its commitment to the community, the OSJL Charitable Foundation donated 50 warm winter coats to the American Legion Post 43 in Warwick to help underserved veterans and their families.  

On hand for Saturday’s ribbon cutting festivities were Richard Portno, vice president of operations for Job Lot, and his colleague, John Conforti, chief financial officer.  

“The turnout is wonderful,” said Portno. “We’d like to thank people for coming out, especially in weather like this.” 

Conforti of Warwick reflected on this being a proud hometown moment for him, noting that they opened their first Warwick store in Governor Francis 36 years ago. “It’s exceptional to be greeted this way,” he said, noting the history of the building as the Christmas Tree Shop. “It’s an honor to be stepping into this location.”