Marshalls Jobs
Brand Names for less. Every Day.
They didn't become the largest off-price retailer in the country all by ourselves. They got there with good people.
A subsidiary of The TJX Companies, Inc., they believe in individuality. That's why they offer their Associates flexible schedules, convenient locations, and opportunity for advancement. In each of their store locations, their Managers will work with you to provide the best full-time or part-time position.
✒ Apply for jobs with Marshalls by clicking here!
With over 650 stores covering 42 states and Puerto Rico, Marshalls is one of the nation’s largest off-price family apparel and home fashions retailers. They are proud to say that we are dedicated to furthering diversity and community programs, too. Part of their culture is that they don’t just talk, they DO.
In addition to our open atmosphere and supportive work environment, we are proud to offer an exemplary benefits package.
Benefit eligibility varies depending on hours worked and length of employment.
✒ Apply for jobs with Marshalls by clicking here!
Loss Preventions Specialist - Conducts surveillance, physical security checks and safety inspections. Investigates and resolves merchandise losses and driver and vendor dishonesty. Conducts on-going loss-prevention, safety, and shrinkage awareness programs for all associates. Maintains a professional manner and can effectively handle all situations. Monitors fire/burglar alarms to ensure proper responses or dispatching. Conducts surveillance, physical security checks and safety inspections. Investigates and resolves merchandise losses and driver and vendor dishonesty. Conducts on-going loss-prevention, safety, and shrinkage awareness programs for all associates. Maintains a professional manner and can effectively handle all situations. Monitors fire/burglar alarms to ensure proper responses or dispatching.
Merchandise Controller - Inspects merchandise for vendor compliance and value to the customer, approving pre-verifications and printing of tickets. Researches vendor style numbers and assigns them to the correct purchase order. Ensures that all ads, test and feature merchandise is received, processed and shipped in required quantities and on a timely basis. Acts as a liaison and problem solver between Distribution Center and Merchandising Depts. Inspects merchandise for vendor compliance and value to the customer, approving pre-verifications and printing of tickets. Researches vendor style numbers and assigns them to the correct purchase order. Ensures that all ads, test and feature merchandise is received, processed and shipped in required quantities and on a timely basis. Acts as a liaison and problem solver between Distribution Center and Merchandising Depts.
Sales/Merchandise Associate Sales/Merchandise Associate - Responsible for assisting in the daily operations of the store. Must be able to work in the areas of merchandise presentation, processing, markdowns, fitting room, cashier, customer service and layaway. Greets, interacts with and thanks customers on a regular basis. Maintains housekeeping standards of area, including ongoing recovery. Performs other duties, as assigned. Part-time or full-time. Responsible for assisting in the daily operations of the store. Must be able to work in the areas of merchandise presentation, processing, markdowns, fitting room, cashier, customer service and layaway. Greets, interacts with and thanks customers on a regular basis. Maintains housekeeping standards of area, including ongoing recovery. Performs other duties, as assigned. Part-time or full-time.
Warehouse Associate - Responsible for assisting in the daily operation of the distribution center. Must be able to lift, count, select, sort, ticket, pack and/or handle an assortment of merchandise.
✒ Apply for jobs with Marshalls by clicking here!
✒ Click Here to Apply for Retail Jobs!
Nation's largest off-price retailers launch integrated campaign to save
shoppers from spending too much on fashion
FRAMINGHAM, Mass., May 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Today more than ever, consumers are
looking for a better way to shop. They don't want to overspend, and they don't
want to pay high prices for high-quality merchandise. They want the same
merchandise they were buying before the recession hit, but don't want to spend
as much to get it. According to a recent Roper Report, value is not all about
low cost to consumers, even in this recession; consumers feel now, more than
ever, quality products that last are the ones that provide real value. A 2008
Yankelovich study found that 70% of consumers who note having high-anxiety in
this economy still say they want to be able to buy the splurge item they want
without increasing their debt. With consumers demanding high-quality
merchandise at low prices, off-price retailers T.J. Maxx and Marshalls are
taking this opportunity to launch an integrated campaign asking shoppers to
re-think their retail choices and join them in a national spending
intervention to stop spending too much on fashion. There is no need to clip
coupons, wait for a sale or show up at 6 a.m. on a Saturday to get a great
deal. When you shop off-price you can get brand names and designer labels for
up to 60 percent off, every day.
Since January 2009, T.J. Maxx and Marshalls have saved consumers more than one
billion dollars compared to department and specialty stores prices, and the
savings continue to rack up. With more and more consumers walking into these
retailers looking for high-quality, low-priced merchandise in this economy,
the two brands have joined forces to educate consumers on the off-price
category and this better way to shop.
"We want consumers to join us in taking a stand against all those tricky games
retailers are playing with coupons, specials and one-time offers. T.J. Maxx
and Marshalls have millions of followers who already know that you don't have
to pay full-price or wait for a 'deal' to get those same high-quality designer
fashions. We want to let everyone who doesn't understand our concept know that
it's not too good to be true!" said Laura McDowell, spokesperson for T.J. Maxx
and Marshalls. "Consumers can feel good about their purchases when shopping
our stores because they are making smart spending decisions, and they are
getting high-quality merchandise at amazing savings."
National Spending Intervention Integrated Program Launches with Advertising
Campaign
For the first time ever, T.J. Maxx and Marshalls will be featured together in
television spots to educate on this better way to shop option for consumers
who don't understand the off-price retail concept. In the ads, a group of
girlfriends stage an intervention on their friend who spends too much on her
fashion buys, and they show her that there is a better way to shop and save.
"We created this campaign with the intention of rallying consumers across the
country to spread the word that you don't have to pay a lot for great quality,
current season designer fashions," said McDowell. "Also, you don't need to
'trade down' to discount stores and sacrifice quality, just for a low price.
In this economy, we feel especially compelled to get the word out to consumers
everywhere to stop them from overpaying."
This campaign will also feature a guerilla marketing tour that will visit nine
cities across the U.S. with live street theatre performing spending
interventions. To show consumers how much they can save just by re-thinking
retail, a roving billboard will also travel, displaying the two ads, and
showing examples of the exact same, current season designer merchandise found
at department stores and off-price retailers at the same time. The tour will
visit New York, Boston, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, Washington D.C.,
Atlanta, San Francisco and Miami.
For additional information please visit http://pimsmultimedia.com/TJX_2009/.
About T.J. Maxx
T.J. Maxx is a Massachusetts-based off-price retailer with more than 875
stores nationwide. The stores offer amazing savings every day on brand name
and designer fashions for the entire family and home. You can also find an
incredible, ever-changing assortment of accessories; including jewelry,
ladies' shoes, handbags, belts and luggage. With new merchandise arriving
every week to each store, it's a whole new store every time you shop! For the
nearest T.J. Maxx store, call 1-800-2TJ-MAXX or visit tjmaxx.com. For
merchandise, additional photography or jpegs, and/or spokesperson interviews
log onto http://media.tjmaxx.com.
About Marshalls
Marshalls is one of the nation's leading off-price family apparel and home
fashion retailers with over 800 stores spanning 42 states and Puerto Rico.
Marshalls offers a wide selection of current season, top quality, brand name
fashions for the entire family as well as giftware and domestics for the home
at prices 20-60% less than department stores, specialty boutiques and
catalogs. For merchandise, additional photography or jpegs, and/or
spokesperson interviews log onto http://media.marshallsonline.com.
SOURCE T.J. Maxx; Marshalls
Jaclyn Trop / The Detroit News
Meijer is in negotiations to open its first store in Detroit, at Woodward and Eight Mile next to the Michigan State Fairgrounds, to anchor the long-awaited Shoppes at Gateway Park development.
An attorney for Meijer, Stephen Palms of Miller, Canfield, Paddock and Stone, P.L.C. in Ann Arbor, confirmed in a letter to the city of Detroit General Retirement System that the company is in discussions to locate a store at the $80 million open-air mall. The retirement system is financing the project.
The opening of a Meijer would mark the return of a major grocer to the city -- Farmer Jack was the last big chain in Detroit, closing in 2007. City residents have long complained about the lack of grocers and shopping options; Detroit has no supercenters such as Wal-Mart or Target.
✒ Click Here to Apply for Retail Jobs!
In the letter, Meijer said the negotiations are incomplete and "a number of issues" remain open. But "based on the progress that has been made, Meijer remains optimistic that an agreement regarding the acquisition and development of this site will be reached."
Company spokesman Frank Guglielmi confirmed Friday that Grand Rapids-based Meijer is in the "early stages of due diligence" for the project.
"We're always exploring and investigating development opportunities across the Midwest," he said.
The 35-acre mall, which will offer "medium to upscale discount" shopping, will be Detroit's largest commercial real estate development in 50 years, according to Bernie Schrott, one of five partners in Gateway Park LLC.
The consortium also includes longtime Metro Detroiters Ricardo Solomon, former Wayne County commissioner; ex-Ford Motor Co. executive Elliott Hall; Greektown casino minority partner Marvin Beatty; and theater magnate Joe Nederlander.
The center also will include close to 40 smaller shops, each between 5,000 and 10,000 square feet, and casual family dining restaurants, Schrott said. The mall is expected to open in 2011.
Two other general merchandise discounters, Marshalls and HomeGoods, have signed on to share the 40,000 square feet designed for the mall's secondary anchor, Schrott said. The companies are owned by Framingham, Mass.-based discount retailer TJX Companies Inc., which also is parent to three other apparel discounters: T.J. Maxx, A.J. Wright, and The Maxx.
Meijer's space would measure close to 200,000 square feet. Together, the two anchors comprise more than 60 percent of the mall's 380,000 square feet in retail space.
Meijer, which operates 189 stores in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky and throughout Michigan, is celebrating its 75th anniversary Tuesday.
The store would do "extremely well" at the proposed site because there are no other major general merchandise retailers or grocers nearby, said Paul Bensman, associate broker and principal at Locations Real Estate and Investments in Southfield.
"Any retail in the city is a good thing. It's a supply and demand issue," he said.
Bulldozers began working at the site Friday morning, and a construction trailer is expected to arrive there next week.
A tax incentive granted two years ago, when Gov. Jennifer Granholm signed a bill that created a corridor improvement authority at Eight Mile and Woodward, requires that the project break ground before July 15.
The project has been derailed several times since it was announced three years ago due to the economy and other setbacks. Chicago-based General Growth Properties, the second-largest shopping mall owner in the United States, signed on to develop the project in 2006 but withdrew last year. The company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in April.
JCPenney signed a nonbinding letter of intent to anchor the center in 2007 but that fell through last year when the national retailing landscape began to suffer from a credit crunch and dwindling shopper dollars.
Retail analysts said the project benefits from its location off a major thoroughfare and availability of parking.
The project's investors believe consumer dollars are there: Median household income is more than $100,000 for the surrounding area that includes the Detroit neighborhoods of Sherwood Forest and Palmer Woods, as well as from the suburbs of Hazel Park and Ferndale and other areas of southern Oakland County, Schrott said.
Critics have argued that the neighborhoods adjacent to the site couldn't support a mall of Gateway's size. The site, which sits on the border of Detroit and southern Oakland County, would not likely attract shoppers from the north, Bensman said.
"Eight Mile is like a river. People won't cross it to go shopping," he said.
Another major obstacle to the project is that most retailers can't afford rents for new construction.
"Construction costs now are more than tenants are willing to pay," he said. Meijer in talks to open Detroit store
Jaclyn Trop / The Detroit News
Meijer is in negotiations to open its first store in Detroit, at Woodward and Eight Mile next to the Michigan State Fairgrounds, to anchor the long-awaited Shoppes at Gateway Park development.
An attorney for Meijer, Stephen Palms of Miller, Canfield, Paddock and Stone, P.L.C. in Ann Arbor, confirmed in a letter to the city of Detroit General Retirement System that the company is in discussions to locate a store at the $80 million open-air mall. The retirement system is financing the project.
The opening of a Meijer would mark the return of a major grocer to the city -- Farmer Jack was the last big chain in Detroit, closing in 2007. City residents have long complained about the lack of grocers and shopping options; Detroit has no supercenters such as Wal-Mart or Target.
In the letter, Meijer said the negotiations are incomplete and "a number of issues" remain open. But "based on the progress that has been made, Meijer remains optimistic that an agreement regarding the acquisition and development of this site will be reached."
Company spokesman Frank Guglielmi confirmed Friday that Grand Rapids-based Meijer is in the "early stages of due diligence" for the project.
"We're always exploring and investigating development opportunities across the Midwest," he said.
The 35-acre mall, which will offer "medium to upscale discount" shopping, will be Detroit's largest commercial real estate development in 50 years, according to Bernie Schrott, one of five partners in Gateway Park LLC.
The consortium also includes longtime Metro Detroiters Ricardo Solomon, former Wayne County commissioner; ex-Ford Motor Co. executive Elliott Hall; Greektown casino minority partner Marvin Beatty; and theater magnate Joe Nederlander.
The center also will include close to 40 smaller shops, each between 5,000 and 10,000 square feet, and casual family dining restaurants, Schrott said. The mall is expected to open in 2011.
Two other general merchandise discounters, Marshalls and HomeGoods, have signed on to share the 40,000 square feet designed for the mall's secondary anchor, Schrott said. The companies are owned by Framingham, Mass.-based discount retailer TJX Companies Inc., which also is parent to three other apparel discounters: T.J. Maxx, A.J. Wright, and The Maxx.
Meijer's space would measure close to 200,000 square feet. Together, the two anchors comprise more than 60 percent of the mall's 380,000 square feet in retail space.
Meijer, which operates 189 stores in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky and throughout Michigan, is celebrating its 75th anniversary Tuesday.
The store would do "extremely well" at the proposed site because there are no other major general merchandise retailers or grocers nearby, said Paul Bensman, associate broker and principal at Locations Real Estate and Investments in Southfield.
"Any retail in the city is a good thing. It's a supply and demand issue," he said.
Bulldozers began working at the site Friday morning, and a construction trailer is expected to arrive there next week.
A tax incentive granted two years ago, when Gov. Jennifer Granholm signed a bill that created a corridor improvement authority at Eight Mile and Woodward, requires that the project break ground before July 15.
The project has been derailed several times since it was announced three years ago due to the economy and other setbacks. Chicago-based General Growth Properties, the second-largest shopping mall owner in the United States, signed on to develop the project in 2006 but withdrew last year. The company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in April.
JCPenney signed a nonbinding letter of intent to anchor the center in 2007 but that fell through last year when the national retailing landscape began to suffer from a credit crunch and dwindling shopper dollars.
Retail analysts said the project benefits from its location off a major thoroughfare and availability of parking.
The project's investors believe consumer dollars are there: Median household income is more than $100,000 for the surrounding area that includes the Detroit neighborhoods of Sherwood Forest and Palmer Woods, as well as from the suburbs of Hazel Park and Ferndale and other areas of southern Oakland County, Schrott said.
Critics have argued that the neighborhoods adjacent to the site couldn't support a mall of Gateway's size. The site, which sits on the border of Detroit and southern Oakland County, would not likely attract shoppers from the north, Bensman said.
"Eight Mile is like a river. People won't cross it to go shopping," he said.
Another major obstacle to the project is that most retailers can't afford rents for new construction.
"Construction costs now are more than tenants are willing to pay," he said.
With over 650 stores covering 42 states and Puerto Rico, Marshalls is one of the nation’s largest off-price family apparel and home fashions retailers. They are proud to say that we are dedicated to furthering diversity and community programs, too. Part of their culture is that they don’t just talk, they DO.
In addition to our open atmosphere and supportive work environment, we are proud to offer an exemplary benefits package.
Optional participation in medical, dental, life insurances, short term disability, vision discount program and 401(k) profit sharing plan.
Other benefits include competitive paid time off, retirement benefits and Associate discounts.
Other benefits include competitive paid time off, retirement benefits and Associate discounts.
Benefit eligibility varies depending on hours worked and length of employment.
Some of the available positions in your area may be:
Loss Preventions Specialist - Conducts surveillance, physical security checks and safety inspections. Investigates and resolves merchandise losses and driver and vendor dishonesty. Conducts on-going loss-prevention, safety, and shrinkage awareness programs for all associates. Maintains a professional manner and can effectively handle all situations. Monitors fire/burglar alarms to ensure proper responses or dispatching. Conducts surveillance, physical security checks and safety inspections. Investigates and resolves merchandise losses and driver and vendor dishonesty. Conducts on-going loss-prevention, safety, and shrinkage awareness programs for all associates. Maintains a professional manner and can effectively handle all situations. Monitors fire/burglar alarms to ensure proper responses or dispatching.
Merchandise Controller - Inspects merchandise for vendor compliance and value to the customer, approving pre-verifications and printing of tickets. Researches vendor style numbers and assigns them to the correct purchase order. Ensures that all ads, test and feature merchandise is received, processed and shipped in required quantities and on a timely basis. Acts as a liaison and problem solver between Distribution Center and Merchandising Depts. Inspects merchandise for vendor compliance and value to the customer, approving pre-verifications and printing of tickets. Researches vendor style numbers and assigns them to the correct purchase order. Ensures that all ads, test and feature merchandise is received, processed and shipped in required quantities and on a timely basis. Acts as a liaison and problem solver between Distribution Center and Merchandising Depts.
Sales/Merchandise Associate Sales/Merchandise Associate - Responsible for assisting in the daily operations of the store. Must be able to work in the areas of merchandise presentation, processing, markdowns, fitting room, cashier, customer service and layaway. Greets, interacts with and thanks customers on a regular basis. Maintains housekeeping standards of area, including ongoing recovery. Performs other duties, as assigned. Part-time or full-time. Responsible for assisting in the daily operations of the store. Must be able to work in the areas of merchandise presentation, processing, markdowns, fitting room, cashier, customer service and layaway. Greets, interacts with and thanks customers on a regular basis. Maintains housekeeping standards of area, including ongoing recovery. Performs other duties, as assigned. Part-time or full-time.
Warehouse Associate - Responsible for assisting in the daily operation of the distribution center. Must be able to lift, count, select, sort, ticket, pack and/or handle an assortment of merchandise.
T.J. Maxx and Marshalls Join Together for a National Spending Intervention:
It's Time for Consumers to Re-Think Retail
Nation's largest off-price retailers launch integrated campaign to save
shoppers from spending too much on fashion
FRAMINGHAM, Mass., May 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Today more than ever, consumers are
looking for a better way to shop. They don't want to overspend, and they don't
want to pay high prices for high-quality merchandise. They want the same
merchandise they were buying before the recession hit, but don't want to spend
as much to get it. According to a recent Roper Report, value is not all about
low cost to consumers, even in this recession; consumers feel now, more than
ever, quality products that last are the ones that provide real value. A 2008
Yankelovich study found that 70% of consumers who note having high-anxiety in
this economy still say they want to be able to buy the splurge item they want
without increasing their debt. With consumers demanding high-quality
merchandise at low prices, off-price retailers T.J. Maxx and Marshalls are
taking this opportunity to launch an integrated campaign asking shoppers to
re-think their retail choices and join them in a national spending
intervention to stop spending too much on fashion. There is no need to clip
coupons, wait for a sale or show up at 6 a.m. on a Saturday to get a great
deal. When you shop off-price you can get brand names and designer labels for
up to 60 percent off, every day.
Since January 2009, T.J. Maxx and Marshalls have saved consumers more than one
billion dollars compared to department and specialty stores prices, and the
savings continue to rack up. With more and more consumers walking into these
retailers looking for high-quality, low-priced merchandise in this economy,
the two brands have joined forces to educate consumers on the off-price
category and this better way to shop.
"We want consumers to join us in taking a stand against all those tricky games
retailers are playing with coupons, specials and one-time offers. T.J. Maxx
and Marshalls have millions of followers who already know that you don't have
to pay full-price or wait for a 'deal' to get those same high-quality designer
fashions. We want to let everyone who doesn't understand our concept know that
it's not too good to be true!" said Laura McDowell, spokesperson for T.J. Maxx
and Marshalls. "Consumers can feel good about their purchases when shopping
our stores because they are making smart spending decisions, and they are
getting high-quality merchandise at amazing savings."
National Spending Intervention Integrated Program Launches with Advertising
Campaign
For the first time ever, T.J. Maxx and Marshalls will be featured together in
television spots to educate on this better way to shop option for consumers
who don't understand the off-price retail concept. In the ads, a group of
girlfriends stage an intervention on their friend who spends too much on her
fashion buys, and they show her that there is a better way to shop and save.
"We created this campaign with the intention of rallying consumers across the
country to spread the word that you don't have to pay a lot for great quality,
current season designer fashions," said McDowell. "Also, you don't need to
'trade down' to discount stores and sacrifice quality, just for a low price.
In this economy, we feel especially compelled to get the word out to consumers
everywhere to stop them from overpaying."
This campaign will also feature a guerilla marketing tour that will visit nine
cities across the U.S. with live street theatre performing spending
interventions. To show consumers how much they can save just by re-thinking
retail, a roving billboard will also travel, displaying the two ads, and
showing examples of the exact same, current season designer merchandise found
at department stores and off-price retailers at the same time. The tour will
visit New York, Boston, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, Washington D.C.,
Atlanta, San Francisco and Miami.
For additional information please visit http://pimsmultimedia.com/TJX_2009/.
About T.J. Maxx
T.J. Maxx is a Massachusetts-based off-price retailer with more than 875
stores nationwide. The stores offer amazing savings every day on brand name
and designer fashions for the entire family and home. You can also find an
incredible, ever-changing assortment of accessories; including jewelry,
ladies' shoes, handbags, belts and luggage. With new merchandise arriving
every week to each store, it's a whole new store every time you shop! For the
nearest T.J. Maxx store, call 1-800-2TJ-MAXX or visit tjmaxx.com. For
merchandise, additional photography or jpegs, and/or spokesperson interviews
log onto http://media.tjmaxx.com.
About Marshalls
Marshalls is one of the nation's leading off-price family apparel and home
fashion retailers with over 800 stores spanning 42 states and Puerto Rico.
Marshalls offers a wide selection of current season, top quality, brand name
fashions for the entire family as well as giftware and domestics for the home
at prices 20-60% less than department stores, specialty boutiques and
catalogs. For merchandise, additional photography or jpegs, and/or
spokesperson interviews log onto http://media.marshallsonline.com.
SOURCE T.J. Maxx; Marshalls
Meijer in talks to open Detroit store
Meijer is in negotiations to open its first store in Detroit, at Woodward and Eight Mile next to the Michigan State Fairgrounds, to anchor the long-awaited Shoppes at Gateway Park development.
An attorney for Meijer, Stephen Palms of Miller, Canfield, Paddock and Stone, P.L.C. in Ann Arbor, confirmed in a letter to the city of Detroit General Retirement System that the company is in discussions to locate a store at the $80 million open-air mall. The retirement system is financing the project.
The opening of a Meijer would mark the return of a major grocer to the city -- Farmer Jack was the last big chain in Detroit, closing in 2007. City residents have long complained about the lack of grocers and shopping options; Detroit has no supercenters such as Wal-Mart or Target.
In the letter, Meijer said the negotiations are incomplete and "a number of issues" remain open. But "based on the progress that has been made, Meijer remains optimistic that an agreement regarding the acquisition and development of this site will be reached."
Company spokesman Frank Guglielmi confirmed Friday that Grand Rapids-based Meijer is in the "early stages of due diligence" for the project.
"We're always exploring and investigating development opportunities across the Midwest," he said.
The 35-acre mall, which will offer "medium to upscale discount" shopping, will be Detroit's largest commercial real estate development in 50 years, according to Bernie Schrott, one of five partners in Gateway Park LLC.
The consortium also includes longtime Metro Detroiters Ricardo Solomon, former Wayne County commissioner; ex-Ford Motor Co. executive Elliott Hall; Greektown casino minority partner Marvin Beatty; and theater magnate Joe Nederlander.
The center also will include close to 40 smaller shops, each between 5,000 and 10,000 square feet, and casual family dining restaurants, Schrott said. The mall is expected to open in 2011.
Two other general merchandise discounters, Marshalls and HomeGoods, have signed on to share the 40,000 square feet designed for the mall's secondary anchor, Schrott said. The companies are owned by Framingham, Mass.-based discount retailer TJX Companies Inc., which also is parent to three other apparel discounters: T.J. Maxx, A.J. Wright, and The Maxx.
Meijer's space would measure close to 200,000 square feet. Together, the two anchors comprise more than 60 percent of the mall's 380,000 square feet in retail space.
Meijer, which operates 189 stores in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky and throughout Michigan, is celebrating its 75th anniversary Tuesday.
The store would do "extremely well" at the proposed site because there are no other major general merchandise retailers or grocers nearby, said Paul Bensman, associate broker and principal at Locations Real Estate and Investments in Southfield.
"Any retail in the city is a good thing. It's a supply and demand issue," he said.
Bulldozers began working at the site Friday morning, and a construction trailer is expected to arrive there next week.
A tax incentive granted two years ago, when Gov. Jennifer Granholm signed a bill that created a corridor improvement authority at Eight Mile and Woodward, requires that the project break ground before July 15.
The project has been derailed several times since it was announced three years ago due to the economy and other setbacks. Chicago-based General Growth Properties, the second-largest shopping mall owner in the United States, signed on to develop the project in 2006 but withdrew last year. The company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in April.
JCPenney signed a nonbinding letter of intent to anchor the center in 2007 but that fell through last year when the national retailing landscape began to suffer from a credit crunch and dwindling shopper dollars.
Retail analysts said the project benefits from its location off a major thoroughfare and availability of parking.
The project's investors believe consumer dollars are there: Median household income is more than $100,000 for the surrounding area that includes the Detroit neighborhoods of Sherwood Forest and Palmer Woods, as well as from the suburbs of Hazel Park and Ferndale and other areas of southern Oakland County, Schrott said.
Critics have argued that the neighborhoods adjacent to the site couldn't support a mall of Gateway's size. The site, which sits on the border of Detroit and southern Oakland County, would not likely attract shoppers from the north, Bensman said.
"Eight Mile is like a river. People won't cross it to go shopping," he said.
Another major obstacle to the project is that most retailers can't afford rents for new construction.
"Construction costs now are more than tenants are willing to pay," he said. Meijer in talks to open Detroit store
Jaclyn Trop / The Detroit News
Meijer is in negotiations to open its first store in Detroit, at Woodward and Eight Mile next to the Michigan State Fairgrounds, to anchor the long-awaited Shoppes at Gateway Park development.
An attorney for Meijer, Stephen Palms of Miller, Canfield, Paddock and Stone, P.L.C. in Ann Arbor, confirmed in a letter to the city of Detroit General Retirement System that the company is in discussions to locate a store at the $80 million open-air mall. The retirement system is financing the project.
The opening of a Meijer would mark the return of a major grocer to the city -- Farmer Jack was the last big chain in Detroit, closing in 2007. City residents have long complained about the lack of grocers and shopping options; Detroit has no supercenters such as Wal-Mart or Target.
In the letter, Meijer said the negotiations are incomplete and "a number of issues" remain open. But "based on the progress that has been made, Meijer remains optimistic that an agreement regarding the acquisition and development of this site will be reached."
Company spokesman Frank Guglielmi confirmed Friday that Grand Rapids-based Meijer is in the "early stages of due diligence" for the project.
"We're always exploring and investigating development opportunities across the Midwest," he said.
The 35-acre mall, which will offer "medium to upscale discount" shopping, will be Detroit's largest commercial real estate development in 50 years, according to Bernie Schrott, one of five partners in Gateway Park LLC.
The consortium also includes longtime Metro Detroiters Ricardo Solomon, former Wayne County commissioner; ex-Ford Motor Co. executive Elliott Hall; Greektown casino minority partner Marvin Beatty; and theater magnate Joe Nederlander.
The center also will include close to 40 smaller shops, each between 5,000 and 10,000 square feet, and casual family dining restaurants, Schrott said. The mall is expected to open in 2011.
Two other general merchandise discounters, Marshalls and HomeGoods, have signed on to share the 40,000 square feet designed for the mall's secondary anchor, Schrott said. The companies are owned by Framingham, Mass.-based discount retailer TJX Companies Inc., which also is parent to three other apparel discounters: T.J. Maxx, A.J. Wright, and The Maxx.
Meijer's space would measure close to 200,000 square feet. Together, the two anchors comprise more than 60 percent of the mall's 380,000 square feet in retail space.
Meijer, which operates 189 stores in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky and throughout Michigan, is celebrating its 75th anniversary Tuesday.
The store would do "extremely well" at the proposed site because there are no other major general merchandise retailers or grocers nearby, said Paul Bensman, associate broker and principal at Locations Real Estate and Investments in Southfield.
"Any retail in the city is a good thing. It's a supply and demand issue," he said.
Bulldozers began working at the site Friday morning, and a construction trailer is expected to arrive there next week.
A tax incentive granted two years ago, when Gov. Jennifer Granholm signed a bill that created a corridor improvement authority at Eight Mile and Woodward, requires that the project break ground before July 15.
The project has been derailed several times since it was announced three years ago due to the economy and other setbacks. Chicago-based General Growth Properties, the second-largest shopping mall owner in the United States, signed on to develop the project in 2006 but withdrew last year. The company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in April.
JCPenney signed a nonbinding letter of intent to anchor the center in 2007 but that fell through last year when the national retailing landscape began to suffer from a credit crunch and dwindling shopper dollars.
Retail analysts said the project benefits from its location off a major thoroughfare and availability of parking.
The project's investors believe consumer dollars are there: Median household income is more than $100,000 for the surrounding area that includes the Detroit neighborhoods of Sherwood Forest and Palmer Woods, as well as from the suburbs of Hazel Park and Ferndale and other areas of southern Oakland County, Schrott said.
Critics have argued that the neighborhoods adjacent to the site couldn't support a mall of Gateway's size. The site, which sits on the border of Detroit and southern Oakland County, would not likely attract shoppers from the north, Bensman said.
"Eight Mile is like a river. People won't cross it to go shopping," he said.
Another major obstacle to the project is that most retailers can't afford rents for new construction.
"Construction costs now are more than tenants are willing to pay," he said.