T.J. Maxx to open new Sandusky area store, developer says

PERKINS TWP. — A new retail development next to the Crossings of Sandusky shopping center will include a new T.J. Maxx department store and four or five other retailers who currently aren't in the Sandusky market, a developer says.It's anticipated the stores in the new shopping project, known as Sandusky Promenade, will open late this year or early next year, said Vikaas Patni, chief operating officer and senior vice president for Meridian Realty Capital LLC. The project will be on vacant land near the Kohl's store at the Crossings of Sandusky shopping center on U.S. 250 just north of Ohio 2.Patni, who said he anticipates T.J. Maxx will close its Sandusky Mall store when it opens its new store, explained his company's development is separate from the current Crossings of Sandusky shopping center, which is owned by a different company."The two developments have nothing to do with each other," he said.The new retail development will occupy 60,000 to 70,000 square feet, he said.Patni said he can't reveal the other stores yet, but said all of the planned retail clients will be businesses that currently don't have a store in the Sandusky area.Meridian Capital believes the new development will have a positive economic impact upon the Sandusky area, including retail sales and jobs.T.J. Maxx has more than 1,000 off-price retail stores, selling clothing as well as various home products. The company currently has a store at Sandusky Mall, near the Books-A-Million store.A sign next to U.S. 250 says "T.J. Maxx coming soon," although Patni said his company did not put up the sign.Spokesmen for Sandusky Mall and for T.J. Maxx had little to say about the impending change.Joe Bell, a spokesman for the Cafaro Company, the Youngstown-based owner of Sandusky Mall, said Friday, "T.J. Maxx currently has a valid lease at that location at the mall."He added, "What happens to that store has been subject to a lot of speculation, but we're not going to feed into the speculation."T.J. Maxx spokeswoman Bethany Crocetti sent the Register an email Friday in response to an inquiry, but had little to add."Although we appreciate your inquiry, T.J. Maxx has not announced any store changes at this time," she said.A store employee told the Register Friday that there was no information at the store level. She asked the Register to contact corporate headquarters.T.J. Maxx's parent company, The TJX Companies, Inc., also owns Marshalls, HomeGoods and Sierra Trading Post.The company seems to be doing well.On Feb. 22, TJX reported that fourth quarter sales were up 6 percent to to $9.5 billion, and that's coming off of an 8 percent increase in the like period a year ago. The company added 198 stores during the fiscal year that ended on Jan. 28, a company press release said.A sign next to U.S. 250 plugs the planned new T.J. Maxx store.