Lumber Liquidators joins stores flocking to Christiana area

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Lumber liquidatorsThe nation’s largest hardwood flooring retailer will set up shop in the University Plaza shopping center in the Christiana area.

Build-out is now under way on space to be leased to Lumber Liquidators. The opening is one more sign that national retailers are staking their claim on the area in and around Christiana Mall. The store will bring the center to full occupancy.

Lumber Liquidators has two other Delaware locations in Dover and Claymont. The location is now listed on the Lumber Liquidators website, but no opening date has been announced.

The company, based near  Williamsburg, VA,  has been struggling with issues related to flooring imported from China. It has faced several quarters of declining sales after a 60 Minutes report.on high levels of formaldehyde in the laminate flooring.

Lumber Liquidators’  CEO abruptly quit last week and the company has seen a 70 percent drop in its stock price.

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Despite a name that has always caused some confusion in the minds of consumers, Lumber Liquidators has profited from the shift from carpeting to hardwood flooring by opening more than 200  stores throughout the nation in strip malls and other low-cost locations.

For the Christiana area, the presence of Lumber Liquidators is one more sign that the area has become a top destination for retailers.

Construction is continuing at the Christiana Fashion Center adjacent to the mall, with off-price retailers and top national chains,  like The Container Store and outdoor retailer, REI flocking to the site.

Also, coming to the Fashion Center is off-price chain Marshall’s/Homegoods and Best Buy, with regional furniture giant Raymour & Flanigan expected to follow.

Soup and sandwich spot Zoup!, Ted’s Montana Grill and perhaps hot fast food concept Shake Shack are also possibilities.

University Plaza, an aging shopping center,  off Route 273, has benefitted from the growth by drawing a Sears Outlet store,  Burlington, tool giant Harbor Freight and now Lumber Liquidators. The center has also undergone and exterior makeover.

On the other side of Route 273, RH Outlet (Restoration Hardware) opened a closeout store at the former DSW Shoe location in Christiana Town Center. The DSW store moved to the Fashion Center.

Both the Town and Fashion centers are owned by Wilmington-based  Allied Retail Properties, which also owns Concord Mall.

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