The Merchant’s Square shopping center near Interstate 495 and Governor Printz Boulevard north of Wilmington is getting another larger occupant.
Ross Stores is preparing to open a dd’s Discounts store at the center. The store sells clothing, shoes, home décor, fashions, toys and other items. Ross officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment on an opening date.
The dd’s chain operates out of neighborhood shopping centers. The two nearest stores are in Philadelphia. Stores have an average of 23,000 square feet.
These new locations are part of the company’s plan to add 75 Ross and 25 dd’s during its 2018 fiscal year.
According to a Ross release, dd’s offers brand-name apparel and other items at 20 to 70 percent off department store prices. Ross operates two Ross Dress for Less stores in New Castle and Dover.
“We now operate a total of 1,651 Ross Dress for Less and dd’s Discounts locations across 38 states, the District of Columbia, and Guam. As we look out over the long-term, we remain confident that Ross can grow to 2,000 locations and dd’s DISCOUNTS can become a chain of 500 stores,” Jim Fassio, president and chief development officer stated.
With the wave of bankruptcies of companies like Toys ‘R Us, Ross has been mentioned as a possible tenant for vacant retail space as troubled companies close stores.
Ross has about 220 dd’s stores in 17 states. The company is headquartered in Dublin, CA. in the San Francisco Bay area.
The center is owned by Wilmington-based Allied Retail Properties. Holdings include Concord Mall, Christiana Fashion Center and Christiana Town Center.
Merchant’s Square was one of the first suburban retail areas, when it was built in 1950. However, the center the Governor Printz area was left behind as growth shifted to Concord Pike and the Christiana Mall area.
The center sat virtually vacant for years with county officials at one time suggesting that the center be razed and used as a park.
The center underwent redevelopment in 2009 and has gradually added occupants that now include Family Dollar, Big Lots and Food Lion. The center lists 300,000 square feet of availability out of a total of 352,000 square feet.
