Franklin Park preps for another expansion

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Westfield Franklin Park, which expanded its southeast portion in 2008, plans to expand that area again later this year by adding 47,000 square feet of new retail space to the east of cosmetics retailer Ulta Salon.

Before it can begin, however, the mall owner will have to alter its plans for the area that were approved five years ago by the Toledo Plan Commission.

Enna Allen, regional director of marketing for Westfield in Chicago, confirmed that the company does need to update it its previously approved expansion plan and will take the issue to the plan commission when it meets in August. "We do have some interested tenants and we're looking to reconfigure the space," she said.

The Westfield plan that was approved in 2007 called for a 14,500-square-foot building that is now occupied by shoe retailer DSW Warehouse, a 15,000-square-foot building that now houses clothing retailer Old Navy, and a 10,000-square-foot site used by Ulta Salon, a division of Ulta Beauty.

The 2007 plan also was configured to provide a 7,000-square-foot structure along Sylvania Avenue. That structure was designed for a restaurant but it was never built. Also on the plans were a 12,325-square-foot building and a 24,000-square-foot building. Neither of those buildings, intended for use by smaller stores, was built.

Ms. Allen said the reconfigured expansion plans are still in the early stages and there is no timeline for either construction or the arrival of new stores. Until all details are finalized, she said, Westfield will not identify any potential tenants for the new addition.

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However, local retail sources said the mall operator is reconfiguring the site to house two stores owned by discount retailer TJX Companies Inc. of Framingham, Mass.

TJX, sources said, plans to put stores from its Marshalls division and its HomeGoods division at Franklin Park, although it is unknown whether either deal has been finalized between the retailer and the mall.

Marshalls, which has 884 stores nationwide, specializes in off-price fashionable, brand-name family apparel, home fashions, footwear, and other merchandise such as toys.

HomeGoods, which has 374 stores nationwide, sells items for the home, including giftware, home basics, furniture and accent furniture, lighting, rugs, bedding, decorative accessories, children's furniture, seasonal merchandise, and wall decor.

TJX Cos. already operates another store in the Toledo area market, T.J. Maxx, which is located in the Spring Meadows shopping center in Springfield Township.

Westfield Franklin Park originally designed part of the unfinished expansion site for bd's Mongolian Grill, a Mongolian-style barbecue chain. But the restaurant eventually opted to go into vacant restaurant space in the mall rather than a separate site in the expansion area.

Staff writers Jon Chavez and Tyrel Linkhorn compiled this report.