MARYSVILLE – The roster of national chain stores coming to the expansive Lakewood Crossing shopping center now officially includes Office Depot, Circuit City and La-Z-Boy.
In all, the city of Marysville has issued building permits for another 160,000 square feet of retail space to be built alongside new Target and Costco stores at the development. Michaels arts and crafts store, Petco, Linens ‘n Things and Red Robin restaurant also are among the names coming to the center.
Caldie Rogers, president and chief executive officer of the Greater Marysville Tulalip Chamber of Commerce, said she’s not surprised by the caliber of stores attracted to the site along the west side of I-5 south of 172nd Street NE.
“We have the demographics to support the shoppers. There is that much business,” she said, adding that the new center’s big-box stores alone could bring in millions of dollars in sales tax revenue.
The overall plan for Lakewood Crossing calls for building up to 476,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space – more than twice the size of Marysville Town Center. The exterior of a new 127,000 square foot Target store is largely done, with work just starting at the Costco site. Both stores plan fall openings.
Watching the progress from her nearby home, Frankie Benka said she has mixed feelings. She works for Costco, so she’s happy to see that new store being built, and she also isn’t averse to shopping at Target. Still, her view of the mountains is gone.
“We’re not really sure what’s going to happen to our property values,” said Benka, who’s been tracking the shopping center’s progress on a Web site, www.lakewoodcrossing.org.
Along with Lakewood Crossing, the Marysville and Arlington areas are hubs of new retail activity, including a Wal-Mart superstore planned near the Arlington Airport and a new WinCo Foods and Kohl’s department store under construction along 116th Street NE at I-5 in Marysville.
It all comes on the heels of extensive retail development, including the Seattle Premium Outlets center, on the neighboring Tulalip Indian Reservation.
“When you looked up to north Snohomish County a few years ago, you saw a lack of shopping,” Rogers said. “We’re the new frontier. It’s our turn.”
Reporter Eric Fetters: 425-339-3453 or fetters@ heraldnet.com.
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