| Updated: 9/15/2009 12:15 pm |
Published: 9/14/2009 7:51 pm |
It's been bare for a year and half, but the site of the old University Mall is about to have its first new store. The developer of the new retail and shopping complex, Park Avenue, announced a new Target store is coming. And it's expected to be the first in a string of new businesses.
Workers are busy paving the way for what's to come at Park Avenue. At the site just north of Interstate 630 on University in Little Rock, you'll have a maze of apartments or condos, office space, and stores.
Now, after some delays due to the economy, officials are finally sure the anchor store will be a Target. It will include a grocery section with fresh produce, meat and baked goods.
Graham Whitsett and Katy Stone live right across the street. They're excited because for starters, they think they'll be safer once businesses move in. Just Monday morning someone broke into their car.
"They stole our laptop, GPS. We're hoping with a bright shiny store there'll be more patrols, more people around," said Whitsett. But the obvious convenience with Target is groceries. "If we need something we can go right across the street," Stone said.
Mayor Mark Stodola says Target is just the beginning. Now that the anchor store is set, other businesses will follow suit in Park Avenue. He also says the fact that this is 1 of only 12 stores Target plans to launch in 2010 sends the message to other developers that Little Rock is a good place to put a business.
"I hope that this really spurs other national retailers to go ahead and sign contracts," says Mayor Stodola.
The Dallas-based Strode Property Company is the developer behind Park Avenue. Target should be completed by October of 2010. It will employ anywhere from 100 to 250 workers.
