WICHITA — Chisholm Trail Shopping Center and Outlet Mall in Newton has another new tenant, and this is a significant one for a couple of reasons.
“This one’s an exciting one for us,” says marketing director Debra Mitchell. “This makes us 100 percent full.”
Goody’s family apparel store is opening in 9,000 square feet on the north end of the center where Ultimate Martial Arts has been.
The studio was one of the first tenants Mitchell’s husband, Brent, and brother-in-law Brian signed when they bought the center in 2006.
The occupancy rate was 35 percent then.
“We gave them a space that was a little bit bigger than they probably needed,” Debra Mitchell says of Ultimate Martial Arts, which is moving to another space at the center.
Goody’s is one of 787 stores that Houston-based Stage Stores Inc. owns in 39 states.
It operates under five names: Goody’s, Bealls, Stage, Peebles and Palais Royal.
Stage Stores marketing manager Kim Bell says the company looks at demographics and growth potential of an area before deciding on opening a store.
“We also look at the growth potential for the company as well as the community.”
This Goody’s, which will sells shoes and accessories in addition to men’s, women’s and children’s apparel, will be one of the company’s smaller stores. Bell can’t say if it will expand in the future.
“As far as growth is concerned, it’s not something you can absolutely predict,” she says.
Look for the store to open next spring.