Two stores are opening their doors in Richland this week, with the promise of a few more on the horizon.
Lowe's and Target, both at the new Grandview Crossings Plaza on Route 8 -- a 60-acre site -- are now here. Lowe's is set to officially open Tuesday, with Target following suit on Wednesday.
According to Abby Buford, Lowe's spokeswoman, the store's grand opening celebration will be held Thursday, when tours of the store will be available.
The Lowe's has 117,000 square feet of retail space, and includes a garden center. It will stock 40,000 different items designed to help customers build, improve and beautify their homes.
About 175 new jobs will be brought to the area through Lowes, Ms. Buford said, adding a store of this size represents an $18.5 million investment for the company.
Lowes is headquartered in Mooresville, N.C. Joshua Thomas, a spokesman for Target, said the 139,400 square-foot store will have a quiet opening Wednesday, followed by a grand opening next Sunday. Mr. Thomas said the company chose Richland because "it's a focus on smart growth for us." The company looked for areas that would benefit from added retail, had a healthy economy, a population of at least 100,000 or more and adequate transportation. Richland fit that criteria, he said.
Target does not plan to do any special promotions or sales during its grand opening, Mr. Thomas said.
The store is creating 150 to 250 new jobs, he said.
The plaza also contains a branch of PNC Bank, already open for business.
On Monday, the township Planning Commission approved preliminary plans for an Applebees and a Beaners Coffee Shop in the plaza, as well as preliminary plans for a Texas Roadhouse restaurant.
The site is being developed by Echo Retail. In addition to the opening of Grandview Crossings, a GetGo gas station is expected to open later this summer across the street. The 4,500 square-foot gas station has been under construction for several months, and will include a Market Basket store, gas pumps and full-service car wash.
The GetGo is expected to open in late summer or early fall, Mr. Roberts said.
Also coming to the township is a Kohl's department store, to be located in Richland Mall. Zamagias Properties, developer for that site, had asked the township Planning Commission for approval to renovate the site to suit the store. That approval was received Monday. There is no word on when the renovations will begin, or when the store is expected to open.
First Published: July 20, 2007, 1:15 p.m.
