Aaron’s, a national discount appliance and furniture chain, will open its newest location in Ansonia Friday.
The shop is owned by North Carolina resident Steve Carlson, who plans to open three franchises in Connecticut over the next several years.
It is located in the Main Street shopping plaza with Big Y and Bobs, in the storefront where Better Bedding used to be.
Aaron’s sells furniture, kitchen appliances, televisions, and computers at discounted rates, Carlson said.
The store also has a lease-to-own program to help people finance their purchases.
Carlson, 58, said he chose the site because of its size and the traffic the shopping plaza gets.
“I think it’s a great location,” Carlson said. “I’ve looked at other places. But there are not a lot of places that are large enough and not too large, that have the kind of traffic that spot has. It worked out great for us.”
The store is about 6,500 square feet.
Carlson said he has received a warm welcome from people in the Valley, including officials at City Hall who have helped him through the process.
Vinnie Scarlatta, the city’s chairman of the Economic Development Commission, said Carlson was directed to the city through the Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce.
“It’s nice to see new prospects wandering into Ansonia,” Scarlatta said.
The commission wants to start aggressively seeking more business too, Scarlatta said.
“We will start soon to actually go out and look for these kinds of businesses,” he said. “Now that we have our schools engaged, we have our businesses engaged, we’re stirring up energy.”
Carlson said he has hired six people from the area — including manager Brian Alves — to work in the store, and hopes to hire more once it starts getting traffic.
The shop will have its ribbon cutting at noon on Friday Feb. 17.
Store hours will be Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
A message seeking comment was left with Ansonia Mayor James Della Volpe.