Archives of the Mayor's Press Office

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: Wednesday, January 6, 1999

Release #003-99

Contact: Colleen Roche/Curt Ritter (212) 788-2958


MAYOR GIULIANI AND QUEENS BOROUGH PRESIDENT SHULMAN CELEBRATE GRAND OPENING OF THE HOME DEPOT IN QUEENS

Long Island City Home-Improvement Retail Store Will Create 350 New Jobs

Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani and Queens Borough President Claire Shulman today celebrated the grand opening of The Home Depot's new 24-hour home-improvement retail store by sawing through a two-by-four board -- The Home Depot's version of cutting a ribbon. The new 127,000 square-foot store, which will include a 20,000 square-foot garden center, will be located at 50th Street and Northern Boulevard in Long Island City, Queens. It is expected to create 350 new jobs, bringing the total number of people employed by The Home Depot in New York City to more than 2,000. The store will open to the public tomorrow, Thursday, January 7th, at 6:00 a.m.

As part of today's celebration the Long Island City Home Depot will donate $2,500 to the enhancement of Athens Square Park and $2,500 to the renovation of the Variety Boys and Girls Club of Queens. Members of Home Depot's volunteer corps will establish a mentoring program to provide weekly instruction on renovation projects to area children and will also work with the groups to improve their sites.

"This is a great day for the people of Queens and for all New Yorkers," said Mayor Giuliani. "For too long New York City turned its back on the big stores that offer New Yorkers both variety and value. Such businesses as The Home Depot make tremendous contributions to the City's economy by boosting private sector job growth and investing in our neighborhoods. In addition to creating jobs, the new Home Depot will contribute $2,500 to the enhancement of Athens Square Park and $2,500 to the renovation of the Variety Boys and Girls Club of Queens, reaffirming its commitment to the surrounding Queens community."

The new store will offer customers approximately 50,000 different products, as well as clinics and other specialized services that will make completing any home project easier and more affordable. The store, one of the closest to Manhattan, will feature a special line of products to fill apartment dwellers' needs including kitchen cabinets and hardware, designed for smaller kitchens.

Queens Borough President Claire Shulman said, "This is just the latest chapter in the continuing success story of The Home Depot in Queens. The Home Depot stores in Flushing and Ozone Park are thriving and today's 'board-cutting' is further proof of the strong home-improvement retail market in this booming borough of economic activity. I also want to thank The Home Depot for not only providing hundreds of jobs and thousands of products to area consumers, but also for investing its dollars in community organizations and public places that we can all enjoy."

The Home Depot's progressive corporate culture included a philanthropic budget of $12.5 million in 1998, which was directed back to the communities Home Depot serves and the interests of its employees through a Matching Gift program. The major focus is to provide rehabilitation and development of affordable housing and programs that assist "at-risk" youth. Additionally, Team Depot, an organized volunteer force of Home Depot employees, was developed in 1992 to promote volunteer activities within their neighborhoods.

"We are extremely pleased to become a part of this community," said Frank Piacenti, Manager of The Home Depot's Long Island City store, "Home Depot is committed to our customers. We offer the best selection and price, the best home- improvement advice, and the best service. And we are committed to working with our neighbors to promote our new neighborhood."

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