Have You Heard?

WICHITA — Every kiss begins at … NewMarket Square?

Some of them soon will, anyway.

Kay Jewelers, known for its “every kiss begins with Kay” tagline, is opening at the development at 21st and Maize.

The chain is taking 2,224 square feet where Meritrust Credit Union used to be. That’s the same building as Pei Wei.

April Reed of Slawson Cos., who handled the deal, says the store likely will open in early February – probably in time for Valentine’s Day.

“This is our first national jeweler,” Reed says.

A local jewelry store, Powell Jewelry, is in the same area. Reed says there isn’t a conflict.

“Historically jewelry stores have clustered in the mall,” she says. “People in that category cross-shop so much.”

There are Kay stores in Towne East Square and Towne West Square, but Reed says Kay has also been going into open-air retail centers such as NewMarket for years.

There’s only one other space left to lease in that part of the development. There’s 1,900 square feet available facing Best Buy in the same building as Doc Green’s.

The new Kay will face Maize Road. Reed says there’s only one NewMarket space left along Maize Road. It’s in the same building as Sport Clips Haircuts.

“That would fill up everything on Maize Road that Slawson owns.”

UPDATED — Carter’s is the newest retailer coming to the growing NewMarket Square at 21st and Maize.

The shop, which specializes in infant, toddler and children’s clothing, has signed a lease for 4,000 square feet next to Christopher & Banks. That’s in the area where Lane Bryant, Kirkland’s and Pier 1 Imports have recently opened.

“There’s a lot of foot traffic over there,” says April Reed, who handled the deal for the Slawson Cos. development.

There’s 4,000 square feet left to lease in the building where Carter’s will open in February.

Reed says the remaining space can be divided for two tenants. She says she thinks it makes sense for another junior apparel store or similar retailer to go there, especially since the Children’s Place and Rue 21 are nearby.

“They tend to like to cluster together.”

There’s another 3,000 square feet available next to Rue 21.

Reed is confident in the area and how it’s doing so far.

“The stores that have opened, they’re just doing phenomenal,” she says. “The center is just that much more walkable, shoppable. We’ve got just about everything a girl or guy could want.”

Or, in Carter’s case, someone much smaller.