SCARBOROUGH — An Auburn-based shoe retailer will soon open a seventh store, on Payne Road in Scarborough.
Lamey Wellehan is reworking a former automotive quick-lube business and three other connected storefronts in the Payne Road Plaza with plans to open in October, store manager Chris Stanley said. The 6,000-square-foot space will be 30 percent larger than any other Lamey Wellehan store in the area.
“It’s going to be, we think, a very exciting store,” Stanley said. “This store will be the first time we’ve focused all our efforts on making the store as environmentally responsible as possible.”
President Jim Wellehan said the company decided on the new location because of the high volume of traffic that travels down Payne Road, combined with the store’s frontage, a traffic light at the entrance and plenty of available parking.
In addition, “the area south of the Maine Mall is growing tremendously,” Stanley said.
Though one Lamey Wellehan store is already located in the Maine Mall, a short distance away, for now, both will continue to operate.
“The Maine Mall shoppers are slightly different from other shoppers,” Stanley said. “Scarborough is more of a destination, and is for people who live and shop in the immediate area.”
Lamey Wellehan opened its first store in downtown Lewiston in 1914. The company employs about 100 people, and the new store will add 10 jobs.
The company had to go before the Scarborough Planning Board for approval before beginning work on the new facility.
“Of all the towns we’ve operated in, Scarborough was very hands-on with the whole process,” Wellehan said. “Scarborough does require a bit more than other towns; we think that means Scarborough cares.”
Scarborough Economic Development Corp. President Harvey Rosenfeld said he appreciates the arrival of the longtime Maine business.
“We think the location will do very well – it’s very visible, easy to get to,” he said. “That’s the type of store that will benefit the other retailers; it will bring more people into Scarborough.”
Peggy Roberts can be reached at 781-3661 ext. 125 or proberts@theforecaster.net.
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