Tractor Supply Company not closing, says rep

Newton’s Tractor Supply Company is doing just fine, thank you.

Apparently, the “for sale” signs in front of the store at 3021 First Ave. E. have some folks around town speculating that Tractor Supply could be the next Newton business to shutter its doors.

Not so, says Tractor Supply Spokesperson Molly Williamson.

“Many customers have complained that due to the signs on the building and by the road, they think the Tractor Supply store is going out of business.” she writes. “However, Tractor Supply will not be closing the doors in Newton. Tractor Supply has been in Newton for approximately five years, and the lease in that building has just been renewed for five years.”

Newton’s Tractor Supply Company has occupied about 25,000 feet of the former Wal-Mart along First Avenue. A portion of that building remains empty.

While the economy has some retailers seeing woe, Williamson indicated that Tractor Supply Company is doing fine.

The company opened 17 new stores in the third quarter of 2009 and added 58 total stores in all of 2009. Sales for the company in the third quarter edged up nearly 2 percent from the same quarter of 2008. Tractor Supply has 912 stores in operation including its Newton location.