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South Lake Tahoe welcomes another office supply store

Susan Wood, Tribune staff writer

Come Saturday, South Lake Tahoe may welcome another big-box store to the office-supply food chain.

Staples Inc., with more than 1,200 stores worldwide, will open for business Saturday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., virtually across the street from its primary competitor. The grand opening is scheduled for 9 a.m. Dec. 23.

The initial opening comes on the heels of Office Depot’s swinging its doors open Oct. 28 on U.S. Highway 50 next to McDonald’s near the “Y.” Staples is situated on the northeast corner of the “Y.”



“We are excited about the prospect of becoming the complete, one-stop shopping destination for the small business, small office and home office customers in the Lake Tahoe community,” Vice Chairman Joe Vassalluzzo said in an issued statement.

As it turns out, the Farmington, Mass.-based retailer not only anticipates great things from its 24,000-square-foot store, Office Depot management eventually does, too.



Office Depot Store Manager Eric Sterchi expects to lose a little business at first, as customers “check out” the new store.

After the novelty wears off, Sterchi projects more traffic to his store from Truckee and Tahoe City.

“If you look at other communities (with similar situations), that’s what happens,” he said of the outside draw.

“It’s going to be a unique situation, but I think it’s going to be good for both of us,” Sterchi added.

The manager went as far as to characterize the store’s different markets.

He suggests his store’s target audience as more of a larger, business-to-business customer such as the Stateline casinos and Barton HealthCare, in comparison to Staples’ personal consumers.

Staples spokeswoman Vicki Hughart stopped short of agreeing with Sterchi, insisting her $9 billion, publicly traded superstore’s business lies with small business, home office users and “power users” – those who take work home.

Staples carries thousands of office products, business machines, computer technology products, office furniture and teaching supplies.

The new store will feature a copy center for on-site duplicating and printing services. There’s also a technology section that offers computer upgrades, software installations and consultation services.

To its more than 50,000 staffers worldwide, Staples has added 35 employees to the South Shore.

The store’s Boise, Idaho-developer, Hawkins Smith, has shared his intention to sell the lot with the store as a package deal.


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