Bonus Redemption LLC has completed its takeover of The Bottle King Redemption Center Inc. with its purchase of the Newcastle location.
Dan and Suzanne Goldenson, of Bremen, own Bonus Redemption LLC. The Goldensons purchased the Damariscotta and Waldoboro locations of The Bottle King earlier this month, and now operate all three.
Bonus Redemption LLC is leasing the Newcastle space from Chris and Paula Roberts.
Dan Goldenson promises a return to reliable hours at the redemption centers and is already making changes to benefit both customers and employees.
The redemption centers will be open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, and will accept “any quantity” of returnables, he said.
The Damariscotta and Waldoboro locations will return to a slip system in use under Hilltop Stop Redemption Center, the owner prior to The Bottle King.
Customers at those locations will receive a receipt for their returnables and exchange it for cash at the adjacent stores, Corner Variety and Pizzeria in Waldoboro and Hilltop Stop in Damariscotta.
The centers will make more pickups from high-volume customers, and Dan Goldenson plans to buy a new truck and hire an additional employee to make the pickups.
The Goldensons have retained the staff, increased their pay, introduced sick time and vacation time, and plan to offer a profit-sharing plan, according to Dan Goldenson.
The Goldensons also plan a program to distribute coupons for area businesses.
“A major focus of Bonus Redemption will be to serve the larger needs of local businesses and nonprofits,” Dan Goldenson said, including organizations that raise money with bottle drives, like the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and local schools.
Dan Goldenson wants area businesses to create coupons for display at the redemption centers, where customers can select one at each visit. He encourages businesses that wish to participate to email him at dangoldenson@gmail.com.
The “bonus coupon” program will start in a few weeks. Dan Goldenson said the goal of the program is to encourage people to patronize local businesses.
Scott Libby, proprietor of The Bottle King, will stay on to assist with the transition.
“It’s a very friendly takeover and (we) are working closely together to create a seamless transition for Bonus Redemption,” Dan Goldenson said.
The Goldensons will largely be absentee owners, although Dan Goldenson, 72, found himself in a hands-on role Friday, June 24, renting and driving a U-Haul truck to catch up on a backlog of work.
Bonus Redemption is at 55 Chapman St. in Damariscotta, 116 Mills Road in Newcastle, and 4 Bremen Road in Waldoboro.
(Editor’s note: Chris and Paula Roberts lease space to Bonus Redemption LLC at 116 Mills Road in Newcastle. The Roberts family owns Lincoln County Publishing Co., which publishes The Lincoln County News.)
