The former Rugged Wearhouse in Fort Oglethorpe will reopen next month as a bigger, rebranded discount fashion store known as Gabe's.
The West Virginia-based retail chain is seeking applicants this week to fill 150 full- and part-time jobs the new store will need when it opens on Oct. 21. Dean Stead, district manager for Gabes, said Tuesday the new store is hiring cashiers, clerks, warehouse workers and other retail positions during a job fair which continues today from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Hampton Inn, 6875 Battlefield Parkway, just down the parkway from the store undergoing remodeling.
The Rugged Wearhouse at 791 Battlefield Parkway opened in 2007 but was shut down in July to convert the store into a bigger Gabe's location. Employees at the former Rugged Wearhouse store in Fort Oglethorpe were offered positions at the Rugged Wearhouse in Chattanooga, Stead said.
"We opened up nearly twice as much space (at the former Rugged Wearhouse in Fort Oglethorpe) and we'll be offering home furnishings and far more merchandise, clothing, shoes and other items," Stead said.
The new store will include about 42,000 square feet and is among several Rugged Wearhouse locations being converted to larger Gabe's outlets.
Gabe's, formerly Gabriel Brothers Inc., was founded in 1961 and is a private discount fashion retailer headquartered in Morgantown, W.Va. The company operates Gabe's stores throughout Delaware, Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, South Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia.
The company also operates 39 Rugged Wearhouse stores in 10 states.
Gabe's sells designer brands and fashions for up to 70 percent off department and specialty store prices. Their stores carry designer brand name ladies, juniors, lingerie, men's and children's apparel, along with footwear, accessories, handbags, bath and beauty products, home décor, soft home, electronics and housewares. The stores are open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday.
If you're looking for the styles you want and the brands you love at unbelievable savings, there's no other store quite like Gabe's," Stead said.
Contact Dave Flessner@timesfreepress.com or at 423-757-6340.