Construction under way on fifth Wal-Mart store in area WHAT'S IN STORE >>
Wal-Mart has started building a Superstore on U.S. 17
Date published: 11/28/2008
By Cathy Jett
Wal-Mart has finally begun construction of its long-awaited store on U.S. 17 near Geico and Stafford Lakes Village.
When completed next fall, it will be the area's fifth Wal-Mart. A sixth store proposed for Orange County is under fire from several groups because the proposed site is on part of Wilderness battlefield.
The Stafford Supercenter will have 176,000 square feet of space instead of the 232,000 square feet originally proposed two years ago.
Even more shopping is likely to come just down U.S. 17 at Celebrate Virginia North. The Silver Cos. is seeking to have about 25 acres rezoned commercial from agricultural between U.S. 17 and the Lowe's in the Cherry Grove section of the Banks Ford Center at Celebrate.
The developer is in talks with several fast-food chains, a coffee shop and a bank interested in locating there. Work on the buildings could start between the fall of next year and spring of 2010, pending zoning approval, said Jon Riley, project manager.
Beer lovers may have to wait a few weeks longer to belly up to the bar at The Pub Fredericksburg, the first business to open in The Village at Towne Centre. The original date of early December has been pushed back to mid-December because the health department made the pub redesign the wall and doorway leading onto the patio, said Cafaro Co. spokesman Joe Bell.
The restaurant, part of a chain modeled after the classic corner pubs of London, has begun hiring in the back of the mall's food court.
Preparations for the opening of the Village, the mall's 295,000-square-foot outdoor addition, include a new customer service desk in the hallway leading to Macy's. It will expand its services to include concierge services, including special-occasion gift-wrapping, tourist information and possibly valet parking.
"With the changes in the mall and the addition of the Village at Towne Centre, we're trying to add more services, we're trying to bring some of the things you find in Northern Virginia down here," Mark Gentry, mall manager, said.
Cathy Jett: 540/374-5407 Email: cjett@freelancestar.com
Date published: 11/28/2008
Most recent reader comments:
BLK
(posted by
louturks
, Nov. 28, 2008 5:03 pm)  
Sad to see over development like it is now
1eviltwin
(posted by
WirePaladin
, Nov. 28, 2008 3:25 pm)  
In case you didn't know or voted, Stafford County had a transportation bond vote in the election this month. The transportation bond included improvements to Rt 17 (including more lanes). BTW it passed.
tpkeller
(posted by
1eviltwin
, Nov. 28, 2008 2:26 pm)  
i dont know if u noticed but 17 isnt getting any wider like 610 and rt3..adding a walmart will only add to traffic and congestion..building a store only adds to staffords traffic problems.when and if building resumes they will add more neighborhoods out that way.get ready to become fairfax county south.not always a good thing
Just wondering louturks
(posted by
BLK
, Nov. 28, 2008 12:10 pm)  
Are You From This Area ? Or are You one who has moved here from the City and You don't want to see this area Grow Like it did in the city's.... Just Wondering... My Guess is that Your Not a Farmer...
You forget, this is Stafford...
(posted by
TPKeller
, Nov. 28, 2008 12:00 pm)  
You can't even cross the street in Stafford without getting stuck in traffic... They need a Wal-Mart not only at every exit, but one on each SIDE of the exit as well!
Seriously though... Traveling between Route 17 north and Route 3 (or anywhere else) in Spotsylvania is often just not possible in a reasonable amount of time.
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