By Amber Jurgensen | Associate Editor
PetSmart, Michaels and Ross Dress for Less all will open new locations in July 2013, at the Lake Walden Square shopping center on West Alexander Street.
The retailers are considered major tenants by DDR, the shopping center’s management company, along with Sweetbay and Premiere Cinemas.
PetSmart, a pet supplies and accessories store, will be built next to Sally’s Beauty Supply. The unit it will occupy is 12,492 square feet. Michaels, an arts and crafts store, will open on the south side of the old Kmart building, taking up 13,500 square feet, while Ross Dress for Less will take up 22,045 square feet on the north end of the old Kmart building. Ross is a discount retailer that carries name brand clothing, accessories, décor and beauty products.
“I am thrilled that we are finally getting a few major stores in our area,” Rebecca Secor-Dellar said. “I usually have to drive to Lakeland or Brandon to buy craft products, and (with) Michaels coming to town, now, I will have those products within arm’s reach.”
“Getting a Ross is a great alternative for clothing, considering we only have Bealls at this time,” Brittany Bowers Sands said. “I’m excited that with these new stores coming to town. It will be a great boost in jobs for the residents of Plant City.”
The general contractor is Fort Lauderdale-based Acies Construction; however, most of the subcontractors will be hired from Plant City and Tampa. Those include Cook Construction Co. and Marlon Dunn Contracting.
“There’s going to be a lot of work,” Simon Rodriguez, of Acies Construction, said. “We will be turning an existing building into a whole other building.”
The stores will need to have new facades, and the old Kmart building also will be divided to make room for Ross and Michaels. Another storefront will be created out of the Kmart unit, as well.
Acies Construction has built a Ross Dress for Less and Michaels in a Homestead shopping plaza. The company also has built other national chain stores, including Petco, Sports Authority, and Bed Bath and Beyond.
Lake Walden Square occupies two tracts of property on both sides of West Alexander Street at the intersection of James L. Redman Parkway and West Alexander Street. Existing tenants include Sweetbay, Subway, GameStop, Jackson Hewitt, Arby’s and Checkers, among others.
There are still 17 units available for lease in Lake Walden Square, which opened in 1992. The total square footage of the shopping center is 257,097.
With 64,875 square feet of space available for new businesses, Plant City residents would love to see them filled.
“More stores should definitely come to Plant City,” Melissa Schultz said. “There are so many people in our little town, and, come on, we would all love to avoid Brandon on any given day.”
DDR owns and manages about 450 open-air shopping centers in 39 states, Puerto Rico and Brazil.
Contact Amber Jurgensen at ajurgensen@plantcityobserver.com.
ON TARGET
As the buzz about the new stores increased, one store seemed to be a popular choice as the Plant City Observer asked, “What other shops would you like to see come to Lake Walden Square?”
“I would love to see a Target. So many people would love to see one. I drive to Brandon or Lakeland just to avoid Walmart and shop at Target.” — Melissa Schultz
“I really wish there was a Target coming.” — Brittany Bowers Sands
“A lot of folks are hoping a Super Target would come to town. I agree, however, my pocketbook would have a different say. I would be so broke.” — Rebecca Secor-Dellar