Reclaiming some big boxes

[Spartan]

Ross to open store on Spartanburg's east side

By Susan Orr | Business Writer - Herald-Journal

The old Kmart on Spartanburg's east side is showing some signs of life.

A casual dining restaurant and a discount retailer will occupy portions of the vacant building at the Hillcrest Shopping Center, and the owner said he hopes to fill the rest of the space soon.

Ross Dress for Less will open a 30,000-square-foot store in a portion of the vacant Kmart, with a grand opening set for April. Spartanburg's first Ross opened last summer in Dorman Centre on the city's west side.

The east-side Ross will join Hillcrest's two existing off-price retailers, Stein Mart and Marshalls.

It will have a neighbor - Panera Bread. Workers are now transforming the old Kmart garden center into a space for Panera.

And plans are in the works for two more retailers that will occupy 20,000 and 15,000 square feet of the former big-box store. John Floyd, president of Gordon Farms Realty [the owner of the site] would not identify the retailers but he said those agreements should be signed in the next six weeks or so.

Another 1,400-square-foot space is being held for yet another retail tenant, but negotiations for that deal are not as far along, Floyd said.

I edited this article from the Herald-Journal:

http://www.goupstate.com/apps/pbcs.dll/art...7/1026/BUSINESS

In addition to that, there is an old Walmart that is to be converted into a Lowes nearby. These are two very prominent eyesores in the Hillcrest area.

Spartanburg still has many more big boxes to fill, but this is proof that an effort is underway to use the space.