Auburn is becoming more of a renter's market. Literally.
Quality Rentals opened for business at a new location Monday, in the former Nolan's Sporting Goods store on Genesee Street.
The store's owners, Joe Catalfano and Jay Kilmer, decided to relocate from the Kinney Plaza on Owasco Road.
"With us being the owners, it was the wisest thing to do. It's a better location. There's more walk-through traffic downtown," Catalfano said.
The bigger space means that Quality Rentals will be able to showcase more products, and the partners are in the process of bringing in new merchandise. "But we're not only a rental store. We also want our customers to know that we're very competitive for cash sales. We offer the same quality merchandise for competitive prices," Catalfano said.
The partners have spent the last couple weeks readying the store, which was in relatively good condition.
Minor roof work was needed, and some cosmetic work was done as well, such as a new carpet.
The move places the rental store down the street from its competitor, Rent-A-Center - making it easier for comparison shoppers to do a quick price check.
"Competition always works for the customer. It's necessary for a good economy," said David Rustay, store manager for Rent-A-Center.
"Competition is always healthy," agreed Sandra Craner, executive director of the Downtown Auburn Business Improvement District. "It makes other shops operate better for customers."
Although BID offers its services to help downtown businesses market their space to prospective tenants, Catalfano and Kilmer have been doing the job independently, Craner noted.
After more than 50 years in business, Nolan's Sporting Goods owner Bob Nolan announced his decision to close last November, saying he could no longer keep up with competition from Wal-Mart.
In May, Catalfano and Kilmer bought the three adjacent buildings on East Genesee, which housed a shoe store, for $125,000. They closed on the sporting goods store July 20 for $350,000.
The former Nolan's property includes five individual storefronts that comprised the shoe store and the offices upstairs. Some of the upstairs offices are already occupied.
Absolute Dance Studio and Wilson's Realty have settled in over the last few months. A coffee shop will also be moving into one of the bays, possibly by mid-November.
The partners also have someone interested in renting the basement space of the former sporting goods building, and are presently working out the details. Catalfano declined to say what type of business it was until the plans are finalized.
The buildings are within the Empire Zone and businesses are eligible for tax benefits.
Catalfano and Kilmer worked together for several years at another rent-to-own store, Renter's Choice, before they opened their own store six years ago. Catalfano has been in the rent-to-own business for the last 18 years.
The partners also own Smokey's and several apartment houses.
Staff writer Mary Bulkot can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 235 or mary.bulkot@lee.net
The store's owners, Joe Catalfano and Jay Kilmer, decided to relocate from the Kinney Plaza on Owasco Road.
"With us being the owners, it was the wisest thing to do. It's a better location. There's more walk-through traffic downtown," Catalfano said.
The bigger space means that Quality Rentals will be able to showcase more products, and the partners are in the process of bringing in new merchandise. "But we're not only a rental store. We also want our customers to know that we're very competitive for cash sales. We offer the same quality merchandise for competitive prices," Catalfano said.
The partners have spent the last couple weeks readying the store, which was in relatively good condition.
Minor roof work was needed, and some cosmetic work was done as well, such as a new carpet.
The move places the rental store down the street from its competitor, Rent-A-Center - making it easier for comparison shoppers to do a quick price check.
"Competition always works for the customer. It's necessary for a good economy," said David Rustay, store manager for Rent-A-Center.
"Competition is always healthy," agreed Sandra Craner, executive director of the Downtown Auburn Business Improvement District. "It makes other shops operate better for customers."
Although BID offers its services to help downtown businesses market their space to prospective tenants, Catalfano and Kilmer have been doing the job independently, Craner noted.
After more than 50 years in business, Nolan's Sporting Goods owner Bob Nolan announced his decision to close last November, saying he could no longer keep up with competition from Wal-Mart.
In May, Catalfano and Kilmer bought the three adjacent buildings on East Genesee, which housed a shoe store, for $125,000. They closed on the sporting goods store July 20 for $350,000.
The former Nolan's property includes five individual storefronts that comprised the shoe store and the offices upstairs. Some of the upstairs offices are already occupied.
Absolute Dance Studio and Wilson's Realty have settled in over the last few months. A coffee shop will also be moving into one of the bays, possibly by mid-November.
The partners also have someone interested in renting the basement space of the former sporting goods building, and are presently working out the details. Catalfano declined to say what type of business it was until the plans are finalized.
The buildings are within the Empire Zone and businesses are eligible for tax benefits.
Catalfano and Kilmer worked together for several years at another rent-to-own store, Renter's Choice, before they opened their own store six years ago. Catalfano has been in the rent-to-own business for the last 18 years.
The partners also own Smokey's and several apartment houses.
Staff writer Mary Bulkot can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 235 or mary.bulkot@lee.net
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