MARSHALL — Runnings announced it has purchased the vacant Kmart in Watertown, New York, from Watertown Pioneer, LLC. The new store will be the company’s tenth location in New York and thirteenth in the northeastern part of the nation.

“Ever since we first expanded to the northeast in 2014, we’ve received a number of suggestions to open a new store in Watertown,” says Dan Herrmann, Runnings Chief Operating Officer, “There seems to be a very strong fit between the customers who live here and the quality products we sell.”

Runnings has a long-standing history of purchasing vacant retail buildings and renovating them to serve the needs of customers in new markets. Renovations to the 112,000 square foot building will begin immediately with the store expected to open this fall. The company plans to hold job fairs in the coming months to hire approximately 75 full and part time team members.

Runnings was founded in 1947 and has grown from its early days as an automotive supply and farm store to a large general merchandise retailer selling an extensive selection of sporting goods, clothing, pet supplies, tools, farm supplies, footwear, lawn and garden supplies, and outdoor equipment.

The privately owned, family run retailer also sells hunting, fishing, and archery equipment and accessories, as well as firearms.