Who's Opening & Where

Paper Warehouse, Inc. (612-936-1000) plans to open one store, relocate three stores and remodel two additional stores during 2000.

Men’s Wearhouse (713-592-7200) plans to open as many as 30 stores by year’s end, as well as selectively increasing the average size of existing stores to an average level of 6,000 sq.ft.

Niemann Foods Inc. (217-221-5600) plans to open two branded stores in the Peoria, IL area. The first store, a Save-A-Lot, will open on Derby Street in Pekin, IL during July. The second store will be a County Market located on North Sixth Street in Monmouth, IL in a space formerly housing a 20,000 sq.ft. Eagle store. A 10,000 sq.ft. addition is being built onto the space, and a Summer 2000 opening is planned. The 35-unit supermarket chain operates locations in four midwestern states.

Dave Wong’s restaurant (209-951-4152) is planning to move from its current location to an 8,500 sq.ft. space on March Lane in Stockton, CA by the end of 2000.

Pancho’s Mexican Buffet (817-831-0081) is planning to convert four restaurants by the end of 2000 to its Panchito’s $3.99 Buffet format. The first restaurant is planned for Houston, TX.

Pizza Inn (972-701-9955) will open its first location in the Phoenix, AZ area by the end of July 2000. Presently, the dine-in and delivery pizza restaurants operates in 20 states and 14 foreign countries.

Jersey Mike’s (732-282-2323) recently opened its 197th sub shop on U.S. Route 1 just south of PGA Boulevard in the Winn-Dixie Marketplace in North Palm Beach, FL. A fifth unit is slated to open in Palm Springs, FL by the end of 2000.

Planet Smoothie (404-239-0009) opened its first frozen fruit drink store in CA last month, and plans to open two additional stores in San Diego County and one in Singapore in the coming months. The company operates more than 100 stores nationwide with a concentration in FL, GA and TX.

Coldwater Creek Inc. (208-263-2266) plans to open four full-line "urban" retail stores, measuring between 7,000 sq.ft. and 10,000 sq.ft, in Chicago, IL, Dallas, TX, Denver, CO and Cincinnati, OH during the coming months. The company plans at least one additional opening during fiscal year 2000, which will bring its total store count to nine.

Best Buy (612-995-7049) plans to open 56 stores during fiscal year 2001, the first quarter of which ended during May 2000. In the first quarter, four stores were opened including three in Portland, OR and one in Lafayette, IN. Of the remaining stores to be opened, approximately 12 will be opened during the second quarter of the fiscal year with the balance slated to open during the third quarter.

Camille’s Sidewalk Cafe (918-664-9727) is franchising in AK, KS, MS, NC, TN and TX, and is presently in negotiations to open four restaurants nationwide. The 13-unit chain offers wraps, sandwiches, smoothies and coffee in an upscale environment. Most recently, a franchise store opened this month at Valley View Mall in Dallas, TX.

The Floor Store (770-433-8211), Home Depot’s new floor-covering concept store, will open a 40,000 sq.ft. prototype test unit in Dallas, TX during July. Between 25% and 30% of the store’s products will overlap with products sold at Home Depot’s warehouse stores and its Expo Design Centers. The company also plans to open three Expo Design Centers in Chicago, IL during 2001 as part of a national rollout of the concept, with a fourth opening planned shortly thereafter. Additionally, the company will add four design centers to the three units currently operating in CA during the coming eight months. During this time, openings are also planned for Troy and West Bloomfield Hills, MI; Burlington and Braintree, MA; Union, NJ; and New Rochelle and Smithtown, NY. The company hopes to open a total of 200 EXPO Design Centers in the coming four years. Also, First Development Inc., which is planning to open a Home Depot (770-433-8211) unit at the proposed shopping center to be located at 31st and Iowa Streets in Lawrence, KS, asked that the rezoning request for the site be deferred indefinitely. The request for deferral is connected to the developer’s concerns about the adequacy of the proposal to be presented to the Lawrence City Commission.

Borders Books & Music (734-477-1100) is continuing its latest wave of expansion with the opening of a 22,500 sq.ft. store at Southland Mall in Taylor, MI, the company’s 13th unit in southeast MI during September 2000.

Toys ‘R’ Us (201-599-7850) plans to add approximately 20 Babies ‘R’ Us during the remainder of 2000. Additionally, the company plans to covert more than 70 Toys ‘R’ Us stores to C-3 combination stores by year’s end.

The Cato Corporation (704-554-8510) plans to open 100 stores this year, and as many as 125 stores during 2001 in its existing markets. The company’s newest prototype store was rolled out last month. The company operates more than 815 stores in 21 states. Long-range goals for the value-priced women’s fashion retailer include nationwide expansion.

Price Chopper (518-355-5000) plans to open a 60,000 sq.ft. supermarket at the intersection of Main and Cambridge Streets in Worcester, MA.

East of Chicago Pizza Company (419-935-3033) opened a unit on Market Street in Mentor, OH last month. The company currently operates more than 120 dine-in and carry-out restaurants in five states. Plans call for as many as four additional openings in the Mentor, OH area.

Pep Boys (215-229-9000) plans to open two 20,000 sq.ft. supercenters in Middlesex County, MA. The first store will be located on Revere Beach Parkway in Everett, MA, and the second unit will be located on Squire Road in Revere, MA.

Walgreens (847-940-2500) plans to open a 15,120 sq.ft. urban prototype pharmacy at the northwest corner of 92nd and Commercial Avenue in Chicago, IL. Groundbreaking occurred during last month.

Dunkin’ Donuts (781-986-2200) plans to open a 500 sq.ft. store on Belmont Street in Worcester, MA.

Wal*Mart (501-273-4000) plans to build a 208,000 sq.ft. Supercenter on 29 acres south of U.S Route 2878 and Little Road in Arlington, TX, pending rezoning and planning commission approval. The plan faces local opposition.

Weis Markets (570-286-4571) plans to continue its current rate of expansion by opening 17 superstores and remodeling 20 additional supermarkets in the coming 18 months.