Erie retailer to move into vacant L. Press building

Source: Erie Times-News, Pa.迷你倉新蒲崗Sept. 04--The L. Press & Co. retail store in downtown Erie was a fixture for decades until it closed in 2012.But the store won't be vacant for long: Another retailer is moving into the building at 1216 State St.North Eastern Uniforms & Equipment, now at 2305 W. 12th St. in Millcreek Township, is moving into the former L. Press building.The downtown Erie store is expected to open by Oct. 1, said George Kenny, 65, chief executive of North Eastern Uniforms & Equipment.The store will sell public safety and industrial uniforms, but it also will sell clothing and shoes for the general public, said company President Brad Kenny, 30, who is George Kenny's son.Kenny Realty Investments, of Pittsburgh, bought the L. Press building for $220,000 on Aug. 22, said Bill Bucceri, manager of Coldwell Banker's commercial real estate division in Erie, who represented the seller and buyer."I think it's an encouraging sign to have new retail moving into downtown Erie," Bucceri said.The seller was Art Press and his two siblings from the former family-owned business, Bucceri said.The Kennys are partners in Kenny Realty Inves迷你倉出租ments.The Erie store is one of three North Eastern Uniforms & Equipment stores. The others are in Pittsburgh and Saline, Mich., south of Ann Arbor.Brad Kenny said they choose to move the Erie-area store from Millcreek to downtown because "it's a great location and closer to our customers," referring to Erie public safety employees. Other factors are the parking lot just south of the building and the site getting more foot traffic than the Millcreek location, he said.The new owners are doing some interior work before the store opens, Brad Kenny said.While most of its products are public safety apparel and footwear, the retailer will sell industrial uniforms and clothing, backpacks and boots that anybody can buy for outdoor activities, he said.The company is certified by the federal government as a veteran-owned small business. George Kenny is a retired U.S. Army brigadier general.JOHN GUERRIERO can be reached at 870-1690 or by e-mail. Follow him at twitter.com/ETNguerriero.Copyright: ___ (c)2013 the Erie Times-News (Erie, Pa.) Visit the Erie Times-News (Erie, Pa.) at .GoErie.com Distributed by MCT Information Services迷你倉