FORT GRATIOT, MI — Customers began lining up outside Burlington as early as 5 a.m. Friday, May 15 as the national off-price retailer officially opened its new Fort Gratiot location inside the former Dick’s Sporting Goods building along 24th Avenue.
By the time doors opened at 9 a.m., about 75 people were waiting outside.
The new Burlington store, located at 4715 24th Ave., includes Burlington’s updated store format and marks the company’s latest expansion in Michigan.
“We’re happy to be here in Fort Gratiot offering great brands and great values to the community and bringing jobs,” said Katherine Wiese, district manager for Burlington Stores, Inc.
The grand opening included a ribbon-cutting ceremony and a $5,000 donation presentation to Keewahdin Elementary School through Burlington’s partnership with AdoptAClassroom.org.
“Every student will be impacted in a meaningful way,” Keewahdin Elementary Principal Chuck Lesser said. “The teachers will be using the classroom funds to directly support students in the classroom.”
According to company officials, Burlington has been trying to open a store in the area for “a couple of years.”
Regional Vice President Martin Frent said the company is continuing an aggressive nationwide expansion effort.
“We’re aggressively opening stores,” Frent said. “We’ve been trying to find a building in this community for a long time.”
Frent credited the local store team for preparing the location ahead of opening day, saying employees got the interior of the store operational in roughly two weeks.
“These guys — thank you guys so much,” Frent said during opening remarks.
Company officials said the store employs around 50 people and is continuing to hire.
Heidi Purkiss, the Fort Gratiot store manager, said she transferred from Burlington’s Roseville location after serving there as operations manager for five years. Purkiss, who lives in Clyde Township, said she was excited to help lead the new store closer to home.
“We’re a super friendly store,” Purkiss said. “We love our people. We love our customers.”
Store associate April Gentner said she recently joined Burlington while continuing to work in healthcare and prepare for a CNA program.
“I still wanted to do my health care because I love it,” Gentner said. “But since being here, I love this too.”
The roughly 45,000-square-foot building previously housed Dick’s Sporting Goods, which closed in 2020 after about a decade at the location.
Before that, the building operated as Builder’s Square. After Dick’s closed, the site was used seasonally by Spirit Halloween through 2024 before Burlington announced redevelopment plans earlier this year.
Burlington
Contact reporter Andy Jeffrey at ajeffrey@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Port Huron Times Herald: Burlington opens Fort Gratiot store, donates $5K to Keewahdin
Reporting by Andy Jeffrey, Port Huron Times Herald / Port Huron Times Herald
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