Mayor Brown and members of Benderson Development announced this morning that Wisconsin-based Kohl's Department Store is planning an 88,000 sq.' build-out at Delaware Commons (2232 Delaware Avenue). The $3.4 million dollar project will create 135 new jobs while an outdated and abandoned (empty for over five years) Ames Department Store building will be razed. Kohl's plans on opening by the end of 2008.
Benderson is referring to this project as Phase 2 for the Delaware Commons property. Phase 1 saw the completion of another build-out that will soon welcome Fleet Feet as one of its initial tenants. Other developments in the Phase 1 plan include the building of an IHOP and a Tim Hortons closer to Delaware Avenue. In a written press statement, the Mayor's office described Kohl's as, "Among the nation's leading value-oriented, family-focused specialty department stores... including exclusive lines as Chaps by Ralph Lauren, Simply Vera (by Vera Wang), American Beauty, Tony Hawk Apparel, and Food Network-branded housewares and cookware."
Apparently it was a combination of the nearby nationals opening, established sales' trends in the Metro Buffalo market (Kohl's currently operates four stores, though this will be the first in the city), and the "incredible density of rooftops" in the neighborhood that led Kohl's to this decision. The company has set expansion goals that will take them from 929 current locations to 1,400 by the year 2012.
I am told that the Kohl’s site plan goes well beyond the building’s footprint. The building might be a bit smaller than the current Ames footprint, but Benderson will be incorporating many features to the surrounding parking lot (including islands) to enhance the currently bleak appearance of the site.