By Tim Simard

Observer staff

A Sears parts and service store closed in May, but the company will return to Williston with a new location in January.

A Sears Hometown Store is scheduled to open early next year on Harvest Lane in the building once occupied by Hertz Rental Company. Store owner Vince Abbiati said he’s excited to bring the “Blue Crew,” referring to Sears’ logo colors and uniforms, back to Williston.

“We wanted to go back in that area and be a service to the people there,” Abbiati said. “We’re filling a void.”

Abbiati said the new location will cover 9,000 square feet and be open by the last week in January. The store will carry all major appliances, lawn and garden tools, and various electronics, he added.

The store will also sell parts for Sears products and offer maintenance service. It will effectively act as a replacement of the parts and service center once located on Boyer Circle, but with much more inventory, Abbiati said. Sears also has a large department store located in the University Mall in South Burlington.

Abbiati has been a Sears employee since 1972, when he started at a location in Barre. Over the years, he’s opened several hometown stores throughout northern Vermont. He operated a store in St. Albans and Morrisville. Today, he owns and operates a Hometown store in Milton.

He said the Williston store’s goal will be to attract customers from Waterbury to Burlington. He also said it will be handy for customers only interested in shopping for Sears appliances.

“These stores are more convenient than fighting all that traffic getting into the mall,” Abbiati said. “And our store is owned by local owners.”

Abbiati said he’s looking forward to opening the Williston location and expects it will attract longtime customers of the Sears brand, as well as new ones.

“I know that customers in that area will be really, really pleased with what we’re putting together,” Abbiati said.