BUSINESS
JUN 22, 2022
RON SELAK JR.
Reporter
rselak@tribtoday.com
NILES — Discount home fashion and decor retailer HomeGoods is expanding its presence in Trumbull County with a new store adjacent to the Eastwood Mall, part of a flurry of construction and other openings at the retail complex.
Construction already has begun on the 22,112-square-foot HomeGoods store on Mines Road near Levin Furniture and Kohl’s — part of the Howland Commons area of the complex that also includes TJ Maxx, a discount clothing store operated by Massachusetts-based TJX Companies Inc., the same parent company as HomeGoods.
HomeGoods is targeting the summer of 2023 to open.
“Discussions have been taking place for over a year, and actually we have been preparing that land for future development long before that,” said Joe Bell, spokesman for the Cafaro Company, which owns and operates the Eastwood Mall Complex.
The store is on a 3.5-acre parcel that is large enough to accommodate another store of about the same size.
“If you break that down, HomeGoods is going to occupy a little over 22,000 square feet, but it still has permissible building area of about 24,000 square feet, so we could build another store right next to it,” Bell said.
The next nearest HomeGoods store is in Boardman.
Last year, TJX Companies Inc. opened a multimillion-dollar, 1.2 million-square-foot regional distribution center for the HomeGoods brand in Lordstown. The facility employs about 1,000 people.
Also, construction is expected to begin soon for a new Longhorn Steakhouse on about 1 acre at the corner of state Route 46 and Eastwood Boulevard, the site of the closed IHOP pancake house.
The plan, according to Bell, is to demolish IHOP and for Longhorn Steakhouse to build new and be ready to open in February.
“Additionally, discussions are underway with two other restaurant operators anxious to establish a presence on the Eastwood Mall Complex,” states a news release Tuesday from Cafaro Company.
Other new openings planned include children’s apparel store Carter’s by Thanksgiving at Howland Commons by TJ Maxx; and King Cajun Seafood & Bar near Outback Steakhouse and Steak ‘n Shake. That 9,637-square-foot building previously contained HomeTown Buffett, which abruptly closed about five years ago. The space was renovated fully, including new dining rooms and bar. Dishes inspired by the cuisine of New Orleans and the Low Country will be prominent on the menu.
In July, Venetia Nail Lounge & Spa will open at the Great East Plaza in a 4,000-square-foot space next to Buffalo Wild Wings and shortly after, NrGize Lifestyle Cafe will open in the J.C. Penney concourse of the mall. The 975-square-foot space is a combined coffee and smoothie shop.
Already open is Aimpoint Airsoft, a practice range that uses Airsoft-brand guns that shoot soft pellets at targets, near the Boscov’s department store.