The Jackson Laboratory is looking to expand by buying the former Lowe’s store in Ellsworth, which it will use for production, warehousing and administrative work. Lowe’s closed the store in November.
The lab has reached an agreement to buy the 143,000-square-foot building on a 17-acre site as long as the city approves zoning and other arrangements, according to a press release from the Bar Harbor-based organization. Charles Hewett, executive vice president and COO, said the planning process could take up to two years, and it could be another two years after that before operations would begin there. Some jobs would be moved from Bar Harbor, and some new jobs would be created.
The Lowe’s site would be convenient for many Jackson Lab employees, since about 60% commute to Bar Harbor, and some employees could shave an hour off their total round-trip commute by working in Ellsworth, according to the release. The Lowe’s site is easy to access with parking and utilities.