Lots and More Breathes New Life into Historic Willimantic, CT Building

A historic Main Street building has been given a new life when a Lots and More Department Store opened in the former Benny's Home and Auto Store in downtown Willimantic.

In December 2006, Benny's abruptly closed its store at 1029 Main Street suprising locals who shopped at the store on a regular basis.

Officials from the store told the Willimantic Chronicle newspaper that the 1950's building was simply too small to display its modern merchandise line but they failed to open a replacement store elsewhere in Willimantic.

The chain's closest stores to Willimantic are in Norwich and Danielson, each being about 25 minutes away.

According to Benny's web site, the chain operates 32 stores in southern New England and sells a variety of merchandise including housewares, hardware, automotive, electronics, toys, bicycles, sporting goods, lawn and garden and outdoor living products.

The chain started as an automotive supply store but branched out in the 1950's and 1960's with stores in Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts.

During the summer of 2008, the outside of 1029 Main Street received a paint job and a radical transformation as signs promised a new "Lots and More" store.

The store is located near the beginning of the Route 66 and 32 overlap at the west end of downtown Willimantic.

It is located within walking distance to several businesses including Xtra Mart convenience store, Dairy Queen, Willimantic Brewing Company/Main Street Café, and a Beacon Prescription Pharmacy.

According to the Main Street Cafe web site, its home at 967 Main Street, was formerly a United States Post Office from 1909 to 1967, sat vacant for 30 years, and then was transformed into a restuarant and pub that retained its unique early 20th century architecture.

While 1029 Main Street is a newer and less historic building than Main Street Cafe, it rundertook a quiet but major transformation during the summer 2008 while students and staff at nearby Eastern Connecticut State University, ECSU, and the University of Connecticut enjoyed the last few weeks of their summer vacations.

That transformation included repaving the building's small parking lot and even completely repainting and renovating the outside of the store which has needed some tender loving care for quite a while.

1029 Main Street is located next to yet another historic building, the 1918 70,000 square foot Noble Hall, ECSU's 52-suite upperclassmen dormitory, which, according to DuBose Associates Architects, formerly was an elementary school.

A building once filled with classrooms of grade school children was transformed into a facility featuring modern kitchens and bathrooms in each suite, state-of-the-art voice, data, and security systems, computer and study rooms, television lounges, and a fitness center.

Many Noble Hall residents who either do not have a car or who do not want to give up their parking spot, used to shop at Benny's and now shop at the new Lots and More store.

According to the Lots and More web site, the store is "not to be confused with dollar stores" and sells products "at lower prices than traditional retail outlets."

While Benny's main focus was on automotive supplies, Lots and More's focus is on lawn and garden supplies including name-brand products such as Scotts and Miracle-Gro.

They also have a variety of other merchandise including automotive, hardware, stationery, food, storage containers, seasonal and holiday, toys, health and beauty, household products, and kitchen aid products.

Specific items shown on the web site include hydraulic and lifting tools, power tools, material handling equipment, car care chemicals, air tools, tie downs, tarps, and cutting and welding tools.

The web site also states that the store sells "everyday necessities like milk and eggs."

The new store sells a lot of the types of merchandise Benny's used to sell.

However, Benny's food selection was limited to candy but had an extensive home department with small appliances and rugs for bathrooms and bedrooms while Lots and More has less home décor items and more food items.

Lots and More's transformation of the old Benny's building into a newly renovated store shows that it is committed to providing what the web site promises is a "clean, organized, and fast pace discount store."

Specials at the store are posted on the website, through e-mail coupons, and through color advertisements in the newspaper.

The web site also states that "new merchandise and great deals can be found daily."

Additionally, the store has a rental service for select merchandise.

It is one of the only discount stores in the City of Willimantic except for the Ocean State Job Lot and Family Dollar, both located in the Willimantic Plaza on Route 32.

They compete against Wal-Mart Super Center, located only a few miles away, in North Windham on Route 6.

According to the Journal Inquirer, the "Lots and More" chain also has two other Connecticut locations in Vernon and South Windsor.

In Willimantic, Lots and More is open Monday through Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The store can be contacted by dialing 860-942-8300.

In South Windsor, the store, located at 770 Sullivan Avenue, is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The store can be reached by dialing 860-289-7821.

Information about the Vernon store was not yet published on the store's Web site.

The Web site states that career opportunities exist for part-time and full-time positions at each of the stores and that there is the "potential for growth within the company."

Those interested should apply in person at any location.