BLUE ASH, Ohio -- Local officials are optimistic that two new stores will add revenue -- but not traffic -- to the area around Blue Ash Commons Shopping Center.
Kohl’s and Big Lots locations are under construction at 4150 and 4160 Hunt Road. The retailers will join a Kroger grocery store, Pet Supplies Plus, Truva Café Mediterranean and Great Clips already in the plaza. The two new stores are being developed in a portion of the strip mall that formerly housed Kmart.
“The store has already been designated retail because it can handle that type of business there,” said Breanna Gilroy, public relations and community coordinator for the city of Blue Ash.
Despite the fact that the former Kmart location has been vacant for three years and will now house two stores rather than one, city officials see no need for drivers to be apprehensive.
“We really don’t anticipate a significant impact to traffic in this area,” Gilroy said.
Kohl’s is slated to open in October. An opening date has not yet been announced for Big Lots.
“We’re really excited to have these stores here,” Gilroy said.
The 35,000 square-foot Kohl’s in Blue Ash is one of four small-format stores opening across the country this year.
According to an Aug. 22 press release, small-format stores feature “fixtures that can be adapted by department and for localized merchandise and assortments.”
“Our stores remain at the core of our omnichannel strategy and we will continue to invest in them by opening smaller formats, rightsizing and optimizing our selling space and working to ensure that shopping in our stores is an engaging and inspiring experience for our customers,” said Kevin Mansell, Kohl’s chairman, chief executive officer and president, in the company’s press release.
An increase in driving delays may seem inevitable in an area with already-congested traffic, but that’s not expected to be the case.
“I think what’s important to remember is retail is not really a huge traffic generator,” Gilroy said.
The addition of Kohl’s and Big Lots shouldn’t cause any major increases in traffic on Hunt or Plainfield roads because retail business tends to be spread out over the course of the day, she said.
With no major changes anticipated, city officials don’t have plans to address potential traffic increases. The city has worked with businesses in the past to accommodate issues in other areas.
“If an issue does arise we can evaluate it and go from there, but we are not anticipating having any issues here,” Gilroy said.
