Gordmans Department Store Coming to Bainbridge
By back-to-school time next year, area shoppers could have one more retail option with a new Gordman's department store in the Marketplace at Four Corners,…
By back-to-school time next year, area shoppers could have one more retail option with a new Gordman’s department store in the Marketplace at Four Corners, Bainbridge Township.
Store representatives appeared before Bainbridge Township Trustees Monday for an architectural review, a process which Trustee Chris Horn said was part of an original agreement with the shopping center developer.
The Omaha-based Gordman’s currently has 93 stores in 19 states and sells clothing at discounted prices, housewares, linens and gift items, according to its website.
The new 50,000-square-foot store will be built near the former Circuit City and Thomasville stores, trustees said.
“Why a new building in a somewhat challenging location when we have empty box stores already nearby?” Trustee Jeff Markley asked civil engineer Mark Belmont and architect Dan Kerns, representing Gordman’s.
“They planned for a new center,” Belmont said. “Takeover spaces present their own challenges and don’t always lend themselves well to a new use.”
Markley cited examples of empty stores in the two large shopping centers that went in within the last 10 years, but quickly became victims of the poor economy.
“The Flower Factory had tremendous visibility and was a large box store that was only there for six months or so,” Markley said. “I hate to see new buildings go up that may be vacant in two years or four years.”
Kerns added, “They want to be in this market and this was available.”
The architect showed drawings of the proposed building, which he said will be made of brick to match the similar retail stores at the Marketplace, but will use the Gordman’s signature eggplant and grey colors on part of the exterior.
He said the store will be a cross between a Kohl’s and an Old Navy, with an open, industrial feel inside.
“It will be a fun, energetic shopping environment,” he told trustees.
Markley said he believed the “back corner” location will need more signage, but Belmont said the store will be listed on the panel sign at the entrance to the shopping center and any other signage will conform to the township’s zoning code.
Kerns said the company uses radio and TV ads extensively.
“Why here? This is your first store in Ohio,” Trustee Lorrie Sass Benza asked.
Kerns said the company is expanding rapidly to the east and is currently in Kentucky, Iowa, Minnesota, Illinois, New Mexico and Arkansas.
The Bainbridge store will be the company’s 100th, he told trustees.
“They’ve been looking at Ohio for four years,” Kerns said.
The store will employ about 20 full-time and 40 to 50 part-time workers, he added.
Belmont said he has been working with the Geauga County Soil and Water Conservation District to work out the details on how storm water will be handled at the site.
Kerns said the company wants to begin construction as soon as possible, once all the permits have been issued. He estimated that construction will take about six months.
“We’ll be working in the dead of winter,” Kerns said.
Trustees said they will vote on approving the plans at their next meeting in two weeks.
