By Sherry Koonce

The News staff writer

Spacious floorspace, a convenient location and ample merchandise to choose from greeted customers Wednesday at Conn’s grand opening for the retailer’s new Port Arthur store.

Built brand new at its new 7855 Memorial Blvd. location, the new store boasts a 25,000-square-foot retail showroom. The added space is nearly 8,000 square feet larger than the old Mid-County Conn’s it replaces at 3600 Texas 365.

Port Arthur residents Anita Ozuna, 70, and her husband, Arthur Ozuna, 69, shopped at the new Conn’s for the first time Wednesday. Though admittedly browsing, both agreed they were pleased with the store’s merchandise.

“It’s just beautiful,” Anita Ozuna said. “Oh my gosh, the furniture is so very nice, and there is such a large selection of everything. We needed this store here and I am so proud to have it.”

An expanded line of furniture is one of the new offerings featured in the Port Arthur Conn’s.

“This is one of our newer format stores that features more furniture. We started out with recliners sitting around televisions, and then they started selling, so it just grew from there,” William C. Nylin Jr., Conn’s executive vice chairman, said.

Nylin was in Port Arthur Wednesday for a grand opening and ribbon cutting hosted by the Port Arthur Chamber of Commerce.

“This is a bigger store with easier shopping opportunities for our customers,” he said.

The store features the latest technology in digital electronics, including high definition projection, plasma and LCD flat panel television displays as well as a large selection of name brand appliances, TVs, electronics, computers, furniture, mattresses, and lawn and garden equipment.

Sylvia Nations, 39, of Port Arthur, and her daughter, 14-year-old Lexi Whitaker, were in the store Wednesday to purchase a laptop computer.

“I really like the store. It’s our second time here, it’s close to my house and I don’t have to beat the 365 traffic,” she said.