8 replies to this topic

[dunveth]

Well, Starbucks may have overextended its franchise, but I am thrilled that a stand alone store is approaching completion in Russellville. Surprisingly, it is not near Tech, or I 40, but on Wier Rd. at East Parkway. Now if I could just buy a beer in this town ...

[Aporkalypse]

dunveth, on Mar 8 2007, 03:59 PM, said:

Well, Starbucks may have overextended its franchise, but I am thrilled that a stand alone store is approaching completion in Russellville. Surprisingly, it is not near Tech, or I 40, but on Wier Rd. at East Parkway. Now if I could just buy a beer in this town ...

I would've thought they would put it near Tech but I bet it's still pretty packed with ATU students.   I bet it's as busy any location in the state, the LR/NLR and NWA markets are probably oversaturated.

[dunveth]

Now if they would only get a decent book store ...

[Russ-Vegas]

ahh finally we get our Starbucks...i havent been on Parkway in a while so i havent seen it going up...but i do know they are about done with Belk...its open now isnt it?

[Arkansas Student]

Aporkalypse, on Mar 8 2007, 11:40 PM, said:

I bet it's as busy any location in the state, the LR/NLR and NWA markets are probably oversaturated.

I took a stab at working for the new store that opened in Fayetteville, but I had to quit due to health reasons (not related to the store).

I learned some interesting information about Starbuck's expansion plans while I was there though.

In NWA, which includes the counties immediately over the boarder in Missouri, there are plans for 20 stores by 2010-2012.

In Central Arkansas, Starbucks sees that area as a 30 store market by the same time frame.

For reference, Starbucks is planning 200 stores in the St. Louis area by 2015.

These stores are designed specifically to NOT serve large crowds, although the drive-thrus (which are actually a new feature added this past year; many exisiting stores don't have them) add to the number of people served. The idea is that Starbuck's wants you to adopt a specific location as "your" coffee house, and they intended to build several so that everyone can have their "third place," as they put it.

I believe Starbuck's business model relies more on repeat business than getting new people to pass through the store, unlike a regular fast food place (quantity is usually higher with repeat customers, I believe).

[Aporkalypse]

Arkansas Student, on Mar 11 2007, 11:46 AM, said:

I took a stab at working for the new store that opened in Fayetteville, but I had to quit due to health reasons (not related to the store).

I learned some interesting information about Starbuck's expansion plans while I was there though.

In NWA, which includes the counties immediately over the boarder in Missouri, there are plans for 20 stores by 2010-2012.

In Central Arkansas, Starbucks sees that area as a 30 store market by the same time frame.

For reference, Starbucks is planning 200 stores in the St. Louis area by 2015.

These stores are designed specifically to NOT serve large crowds, although the drive-thrus (which are actually a new feature added this past year; many exisiting stores don't have them) add to the number of people served. The idea is that Starbuck's wants you to adopt a specific location as "your" coffee house, and they intended to build several so that everyone can have their "third place," as they put it.

I believe Starbuck's business model relies more on repeat business than getting new people to pass through the store, unlike a regular fast food place (quantity is usually higher with repeat customers, I believe).

Good insight, thanks.

[Russ-Vegas]

Next month, residents will vote on extending a one cent sales tax for another six years.  
    Most of the money raised will fund road improvements, but some will go to a new 60,000 square foot convention center attached to a six to nine story Mariott hotel.... ...heck yeah!!...
    "I think this is the greatest thing in Russellville in a number of years," Roy Reaves, Liberty Bank CEO says.  "Imagine a huge billboard, 32 to 36,000 cars a day drive down I-40.  Can you imagine this huge billboard of a hotel and convention center with the lake in the background?"
    Right now, Russellville has a small convention center that can hold a little over 100 people.   A new one would hold over 1,000.

The vote passed and construction should begin as early as 2009..

Edited by Russ-Vegas, 19 June 2007 - 10:21 AM.

[mcheiss]

Aporkalypse, on Mar 9 2007, 12:40 AM, said:

I would've thought they would put it near Tech but I bet it's still pretty packed with ATU students.   I bet it's as busy any location in the state, the LR/NLR and NWA markets are probably oversaturated.

Suprisingly the NWA locations are pretty well packed. On weekday mornings you can't get in the drive throughs it's so busy. It's probably due to the fact that they're aren't any real coffeeshops in NWA outside of Fayetteville.

[RussVegas]

I havent noticed anyone posting the news on Russellvilles new Shopping Center..so i thought i would go ahead and update everyone on it...They have began clearing land for construction and its apparently going to be called "The Shops at Shilloh Creek"...i found this article from The Courier online...

Developer announces future Weir Road shopping center
Development could bring national ‘big box,’ department stores to Russellville
By Brooke Vermillion-Chambers
Reporter
A commercial developing company recently purchased a 70-acre piece of land at the northwest corner of Weir Road and Interstate 40 in Russellville and told The Courier its plans for the site this week.
Tom Allen of Roosa Magnano Development Company said this week his company plans to construct a SHOPPING CENTER featuring retail stores, department stores, restaurants and entertainment.
Although no contracts have been signed, Allen said he is currently working with several businesses to select the best ones for the city. He said Target, Home Depot, Kohl’s, Best Buy and Barnes & Noble were among the developers’ prospects.
A proposed site plan including 485,000 square feet of business space is expected to be brought to the city’s planning commission and utility company by January, Allen said, adding property signs would likely be placed within the next week.
The developers officially purchased the property Aug. 31 because of its location and accessibility.
“We feel like we have chosen a strong location,” Allen said this week. “There’s not very many new interchanges on I-40 like this one, but it’s a natural stopping place for those traveling from Little Rock to Fort Smith. It’s also a great interchange because of Highway 7 ... and we want to provide the services that interstate travelers need and expand the retail and restaurants that Russellville doesn’t have.”
Allen, who operates out of Rogers, said his company is being selective in finding SHOPPING CENTER tenants the community would support.
But in addition to finding tenants for the proposed SHOPPING CENTER, the developers are also faced with potential obstacles to work through, Allen said. He explained the two large ponds that currently exist on the property would have to be filled in or worked around, and government agencies must be involved in the process. He also said sewer lines would likely have to go underneath the interstate, causing a significant expense.
About the developers
Allen said his company is made up of five partners, three of which are in Arkansas (Allen of Rogers, and Mike Thedford and Randy Crossno of Bentonville) and two in New York (Joe Roosa Salamanca and Lou Magnano of Olean).
Allen said the team worked with a corporate Wal-Mart Real Estate company until about two years ago when they formed their own group. Although the company has developed many SHOPPING CENTERs in New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania and Ohio, Russellville’s SHOPPING CENTER would be its first in Arkansas.