Construction and the list of tenants for the expansion of The Shoppes at Fox River shopping center on the city's southwest side has been slow going.
And while Mid-America, the leasing agent for the site's expansion, has been quiet on future tenants, two discount stores are confirmed to be part of one of the shopping center's new buildings in the coming months.
A discount clothing store called Ross Dress for Less and a merchandise store called Five Below are scheduled to open this summer at The Shoppes at Fox River, 1180 W. Sunset Drive.
Clothing store
Ross Dress for Less, the first tenant to announce last year that it will be among seven tenants in a new 90,000-square-foot building along Chapman Drive on the east side of the center, is still under construction.
Ross Dress for Less, on far south end of the building at Spring City and Chapman drives, has departments for women, men, kids, shoes, home décor, fitness, pets, technology and travel.
As of August 2015, the off-price retailer based in Dublin, Califoria, was operating 1,254 locations in 33 U.S. states, the District of Columbia and Guam. Now, the retailer has entered the Wisconsin market. Before stores opened in Brookfield, West Allis and Milwaukee, the closest Ross Dress for Less store was in northern Illinois.
For teens, preteens
Five Below, which sells all of its merchandise between $1 and $5, recently signed on to be a tenant in the northernmost section of the building.
The stores, which are vibrant in colors, caters to teens, preteens and their parents. Five Below carries an assortment of items, including a toys and games section, a tech area, sporting goods, home décor, some clothing and fashion accessories, and seasonal items for holidays.
According to its website, Five Below has more than 430 stores in 27 states and plans on adding approximately 85 new stores in four new states this year. The store, headquartered in Philadelphia, opened 70 stores in 2015.
In addition to the Waukesha store, a Five Below is expected to open to Racine soon.
Fourth phase
These stores are part of the fourth phase of development at The Shoppes at Fox River, which first opened in 2009 at the former Flemings grocery distribution center off Sunset Drive.
The latest phase also includes the construction of four other buildings that total 73,466 square feet of space. The largest space available is 42,000 square feet for a tenant adjacent to Hobby Lobby on the northeast side of the shopping center.
Dan Rosenfeld of Mid-America declined to comment when asked about future tenants and an update for when construction will begin on the additional buildings that were approved by the common council in 2014.
The new buildings add to a shopping center that already includes anchor tenants Target, Pick 'n Save, TJ Maxx, Petco and Hobby Lobby.
Other national food chains and retail options — including Buffalo Wild Wings, Noodles & Company, Maurices, Charming Charlie and Rue 21 — are also part of the center.