James S. Tyree
The Oklahoman
NORMAN — SuperTarget is about to share the University
North Park neighborhood with two new retail neighbors.
Kohl's and TJ Maxx are expected to open this October on
24th Avenue NW, north of Robinson Street. Kohl's grand opening is
scheduled Oct. 3; TJ Maxx managers at the district office expect
the Norman store to open on or about Oct. 21.
University North Park is a new business district expected
to add a hotel, conference center, restaurants and additional
retail stores over the next few years.
Kohl's is a 45-year-old company based in Menominee Falls,
Wis., with more than 800 department stores nationwide, including
seven in Oklahoma. TJ Maxx claims to be the nation's largest
discount-price retail store with more than 800 locations in 48
states.
Josh Krinsky, the Kohl's manager in Norman, said the new
store will hire about 175 people in part- and full-time
positions.
"When you have an 86,000-square-foot building, you're
going to need a lot of people," he said.
The Norman store will be the sixth for Kohl's in the metro
area. The others are in Edmond, Midwest City, Moore, Yukon, and on
Northwest Expressway in Oklahoma City.
"There will be a clean and bright environment within the store with
wide aisles, shopping carts that double as strollers, and checkouts
that are centrally located," Krinsky said. "We have compelling
pricing and convenient store hours."
With the building nearing completion, Krinsky said the
transfer of merchandise into the new store is scheduled to begin
next week.
Kohl's will be open 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through
Saturday and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday. The store will have extended
hours on occasion, such as during major holidays and the upcoming
grand opening.
The TJ Maxx store in Norman will employ about 75 people on
average, with the number varying depending on time of year. It will
be the third in the Oklahoma City area and fifth in this
state.
TJ Maxx spokeswoman Sonya Cosentini said the Norman store
will exceed 26,000 square feet and house several departments,
including men's, women's and children's clothing, women's shoes,
jewelry, accessories and items for the home.
"TJ Maxx carries the brand names and designer names, but
at 20 to 60 percent off those prices that you'll see elsewhere,"
Cosentini said from the company headquarters in Framingham,
Mass.
TJX, TJ Maxx's parent company, also owns Marshalls
stores.
