ROGERS — Rogers bears the sign of an improving economy as a trio of new eating venues and a major discount store chain have confirmed they will be opening shop early next year.
Ross Dress for Less, a national retail discounter, will open in the former Linens and Things site in the Rogers’ Scottsdale Center.
It will be the first Ross store in Arkansas when it opens in the spring, said Tom Hopper, owner of the Scottsdale Center.
“We couldn’t be happier to get such a high profile retail chain,” Hopper said.
The large commercial space has sat empty since Linens and Things liquidated amid corporate bankruptcy in late 2008.
Ross’ media spokeswoman, Bobbie Chaville, did not return calls made to her office Monday.
Steven Lane, commercial broker with Colliers International, confirmed the deal as the representative who recently closed the transaction between Ross Stores and Hopper.
Hopper said the 32,000-square-foot space is undergoing a major renovation for the new tenant who plans to move into the space in early 2011.
The city of Rogers issued a commercial renovation permit Oct. 18 for the $1.31 million project. Nabholz Construction is completing the work.
FAST FACTS
Ross Stores
1957: Ross Stores Inc. founded.
978: Stores in the U.S.
$7.18 billion: Annual sales revenue
Source: Yahoo! Finance
Ross is headquartered in Pleasanton, Calif., and operates more than 1,000 stores in 27 states, including 52 in Guam.
Ross delivered eight consecutive quarters of positive comparable-store sales through September, according to Yahoo! Finance.
The company registered same store sales growth of 2 percent for the five-week period ended Oct. 2.
The discount chain is comparable to TJX Companies, who owns T.J. Maxx and Marshalls discount stores.
Firehouse Subs, owned by Tracye Bush of Van Buren, is under construction at 2005 Promenade Blvd.
Bush owns the Firehouse Subs franchise in Bentonville and said she’s waited nearly three years to secure this “prime location” in Rogers. She also owns three franchises in the Fort Smith area.
“The Bentonville location is our top performing store, thanks to Walmart. But we are confident the steady traffic around the Pinnacle development will provide plenty of opportunities for both lunch and dinner,” Bush said.
She expects to open in the first quarter of 2011 and hire a general manager, two or three shift leaders with a total crew of about 25.
Firehouse Subs will be next door to TCBY and Qdoba Mexican Grill, which announced their new venues last month.