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Bolduc puts rumors of 'blowing up' Romito's to rest

Date: 12/10/2012

By Chris Maza

chrism@thereminder.com

EAST LONGMEADOW — Pride Stations and Stores and Romito & Sons, a landmark deli in East Longmeadow, recently entered into what Pride owner Robert Bolduc called "a business partnership."

The corporate partnership, Bolduc said, is designed to be mutually beneficial for both businesses. Several Pride locations, including the store at 618 North Main St., have delis and advertise the sale of products ranging from deli meat by the pound to sandwiches and platters.

"We have partners we do business with in Western Massachusetts," Bolduc said. "Romito's and I, since we are both involved in delis, have made a partnership that I think makes sense."

He went on to say that the partnership would include "buying our stuff together to increase our buying power to get a better price."

Currently, Pride also operates Fifties Diner, a truck stop diner attached to the Pride in Chicopee near the Interstate 291 and Massachusetts Turnpike interchange.

Pride also has a partnership with Westfield Feed and Supplies and Easthampton Feed and Supplies, according to their website.

Pride's website encourages those interested in deli products at one of its four deli locations to also visit Romito & Sons with a link to its website.

A Pride advertisement in Reminder Publications' recent holiday gift guide also encouraged readers to visit Romito & Sons for catering and gift baskets.

Bolduc stressed that the partnership will not mean major changes to the daily operation of Romito & Sons.

"The rumors get around saying that I'm going to blow up the building and totally change the face of the town and they're completely untrue," he said.

One change he said would be beneficial to customers is the fact that the Pride rewards card program also now extends to Romito & Sons, allowing patrons to earn or use reward points on purchases. Reward points can be used for fuel, as well as any merchandise at Pride stores or Pride partner locations, with the exception of lottery tickets, alcohol, tobacco or pre-paid cards.

The partnership is the latest in a recent surge of activity involving Pride in East Longmeadow.

Most recently, Bolduc and Pride, who already had two locations in town 618 North Main St. and on the rotary at 14 Center Square agreed to sublease the Mobil station at 13 North Main St., which also sits on the rotary, from Michael Frisbie in December 2011. Bolduc was approved for renewal of the store's licenses in early January.

"I think it's a good thing for the town and for business," Bolduc said. "We took what was kind of a dumpy gas station and remodeled it into a pretty colonial building."

He added that overall, he feels the community and his business both benefit from Pride's existence in town.

"It's a great little town. We like being there and I think the residents like us there," he said. "We have a very nice partnership with the town of East Longmeadow."