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Ross Dress for the first time swung open the doors to its new Farmingville store — its second Long Island location — at 9 a.m. on Saturday, as part of a daylong grand opening.
“It’s legit a girl’s dream in here,” said East Patchogue resident Brianna Elshazly, who was first in line — one that wrapped around the building — to get inside the new store.
“I’ve been excited about this opening for a long time,” add Elshazly, who provided photos to Greater Long Island.
Ross Dress for Less opened a store in Hempstead — its first on Long Island — earlier this year. A huge line also formed on that opening day.
The Farmingville location, on North Ocean Avenue near the Long Island Expressway, marks the company’s continued expansion across Long Island. Next up is Riverhead.
Crowds and celebration
Just before the doors opened, management and team members gathered for a ribbon-cutting ceremony, where members of the Boys & Girls Club of America were presented with a donation from the department store.
Store leaders said Ross had flown in staff from across the country to assist with the launch — a sign of how much planning and coordination goes into each new opening.
Once inside, the excitement was evident. The store was packed, with aisles so full it was at times difficult to navigate. Shoppers browsed racks of discounted brand-name apparel, accessories, shoes and home décor — all staples of the Ross Dress for Less experience.
Despite the crowds, checkout moved smoothly thanks to plenty of cashiers on duty and self-checkout options that made paying and exiting quick and easy.
About Ross Dress for Less
Ross Dress for Less is part of Ross Stores, Inc., one of the nation’s largest off-price apparel and home fashion chains. The retailer operates on a no-frills model that focuses on high-volume purchasing and simple store layouts, allowing it to pass deep discounts on to customers.
The modern Ross format began in 1982, when investors converted a small chain of department stores in the San Francisco Bay Area into off-price outlets. The concept quickly took off, and by 1985 Ross Stores had gone public.
Today, the company operates more than 1,700 Ross Dress for Less locations across the United States, along with its sister brand, dd’s DISCOUNTS.
A boost for Farmingville
For Suffolk County shoppers, the new Ross brings another affordable option to the local retail mix.
The company also hired locally in the weeks leading up to the opening, adding dozens of new jobs in sales, stocking, and customer service.
On Saturday, the scene outside the new store was buzzing with excitement. More than 100 shoppers arrived early to be among the first inside.
They were treated to DJ music via WALK 97.5, which hosted the grand opening.
Photos: Taken by Ariyanna Morgan and Brianna Elshazly.
