Russell Cellular completes 2 purchases in 1 month

SBJ file photo

Russell Cellular’s leadership team includes, from left, Jeven Russell, Nathan Mindeman, Robert Lister and Darin Wray.

Last edited 1:20 p.m., June 4, 2019

Within a month, Russell Cellular Inc. completed the two largest acquisitions in its history.

The Battlefield-based Verizon Wireless retailer added 150 new stores in May through the deals, according to a pair of news releases issued by the company.

The first, which closed May 2, added 72 locations purchased from The Wireless Center in the largest acquisition ever for Russell Cellular. On May 31, Russell Cellular finalized another acquisition — its second largest to date after the TWC purchase — with the addition of 71 locations bought from Ensignal. Terms of both deals were not disclosed.

“The addition of these new stores will allow Russell Cellular to expand and fill in its existing footprint in the western United States, adding four new states and offering more distribution points in the area,” CEO Jeff Russell said in the release, referring to the Ensignal stores. “These locations are a perfect complement to our existing team.”

Russell Cellular now operates 626 retail stores in 35 states.

The retailer of cellphones, accessories and plans recently ranked No. 2 on Springfield Business Journal’s annual Dynamic Dozen fast-growth list. Russell Cellular reported 2018 revenue of $424 million, representing three-year growth of 64%, in its eighth appearance on the Dynamic Dozen.

Russell Cellular also is expanding in Springfield, as its new $6 million, nearly 42,000-square-foot headquarters in Battlefield is expected to be ready for employees in early 2020, SBJ previously reported.