Even though many consider the Richmond market to be over served by retail, two new shopping centers with major anchors are racing to open in the county next year.
Westchester Commons (Route 288 and Midlothian Turnpike) and Hancock Village (on Hull Street Road across from Woodlake) will join Chesterfield Towne Center and the Commonwealth Centre to compete for high-income shoppers living in the Midlothian zip codes and beyond. In the latest 2008 demographic research, Midlothian zips 23113 (median income of $106,642), 23114 ($99,072) and 23112 ($86,639) were ranked first, second and 15th in the Richmond metro.
Those who drive by Westchester Commons can see the buildings and road network being constructed. The 1.1 million-square-foot outdoor lifestyle center is part of the 640- acre mixed-use Watkins Centre that broke ground last July. Developer Zaremba Group is close to inking a yet unnamed hotel chain.
Target has announced its opening date there of March 8. Other spring openings are planned for Regal Cinema, Gold's Gym and Jo-Ann Fabric & Crafts. Regal's 66,000-square foot theatre will have 16 screens, the latest digital surround sound systems and stadium seating with high-back rocking recliner seats capable of serving 3,200 moviegoers at a time. Advance movie tickets will be available for purchase by phone, at the computerized box office or express kiosk.
Other announced Westchester tenants include Books-A-Million, PETCO, Bertucci's (Italian restaurant), Famous Footwear, Payless, dressbarn, Five Guys Famous Burgers and Fries, GNC, AT&T, Great Clips, Hair Cuttery, Starbucks, Verizon, GameStop, Tropical Smoothie, Noodles & Company (Chinese food), Icing and Lee Spa Nails.
Branch offices for Bank of America and Wachovia have already been announced.
Spokesperson Kelly Mize declined comment about other prospective tenants Zaremba is reportedly (by other real estate sources) pursuing, including Circuit City, Kohl's, Ross Dress for Less, Office Max and Boscov's. The latter is a Pennsylvania-based department store chain that targets middle-income purchasers and is known for being highly promotional with sales.
Behind Westchester Commons, residential developer Grayco already has zoning approved for up to 1,600 multifamily and single-family homes.
The Shoppes at Westchester, a separate project adjacent to Westchester Commons, is designed for 185,000 square feet of retail and 60,000 square feet of office space. Tenants include CVS, BB&T and SunTrust. Developer Rebkee Company has moved its corporate headquarters there, as have Main Street Homes, CPA firm Gregg & Bailey, Julian W. Black & Son and Balzer & Associates.
Hancock Village
"It takes time to get plans approved, which has caused the delay," said Doug Horack, developer of Hancock Village. The new Hull Street Road center is anticipated to include 534,000 square feet of shopping.
"No one in the center wants to open before Wal-Mart does," added Horack.
Construction of an upscale super Wal-Mart with 185,000 square feet will start in mid-November with plans to open just before the July 4 holiday. By January, construction on Bed Bath & Beyond, Dick's Sporting Goods and hhgregg will begin. hhgregg is the electronics replacement for the troubled Circuit City chain. A family-owned chain of about 100 stores headquartered in Indianapolis, hhgregg will have 30,000 square feet and offer a 110 percent low price guarantee on its merchandise.
Other stores grouped in five different buildings will occupy some of the 60,000 square feet there. They include the Japanese restaurant Osaka, Qdoba (a Mexican grill), Ahead of Hair, Mattress Warehouse, For Eyes, Jersey Mikes, Verizon, Great Clips, Starbucks, a nail salon and a dry cleaner. Two of the outparcels will be occupied by Longhorn Steakhouse and McDonalds, which are scheduled to open next spring.
A JCPenney store with 103,525 square feet is set to open in March 2010. Five Below, a store catering to teens and young adults that sells items for less than $5, and Ulta, a cosmetic store with 10,000 square feet, will open in the fall of 2010.
Check out more stories in this edition of the Chesterfield Observer, now a weekly publication.