Kohl's to have grand opening Wednesday: ?Soft' opening Sunday deemed successful

ALTON, Sep 30, 2008 (The Telegraph - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- KSS | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating -- Shoppers got an early jump last weekend on perusing fresh fall merchandise at the area's newest Kohl's department store, with its grand opening scheduled for Wednesday.

"We've had a fantastic showing since our 'soft' opening on Sunday, and our associates are really anxious" for the grand opening, said district manager Tracie Wickenhauser. "We will have grand opening specials just for the Alton store between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. (Wednesday). We have very good quality merchandise at great prices."

The early crowds learned of the soft opening "quietly" through a sign and banner outside the store. The new Kohl's is located on 9.495 acres at 1770 Homer Adams Parkway, just east of Buckmaster Lane and Home Depot, and west of the Robert P. Wadlow Municipal Golf Course.

The site is north of Barons Commerce Parkway, which is north of Homer Adams Parkway.

There will be a ribbon-cutting at 7:45 a.m. Wednesday, with the "grand opening" to follow. Customers who open Kohl's credit card accounts will get 15 percent, 20 percent or 30 percent discounts off regular and sale prices, Wickenhauser said.

Wickenhauser said more than 1,300 people applied for positions at the forthcoming Alton store, which hired 130 full- and part-time workers after holding a job fair.

Wickenhauser said corporate officials chose to locate a new store in Alton because of numerous requests from area residents, demographics and survey data that showed many Alton-area people shop at Kohl's stores in Edwardsville and Bridgeton.

"We've had a lot of interest in the Alton area," she said.

The Alton store has 60,965 square feet on the main level, with a 7,912-square-foot upper-level mezzanine and construction cost of $3.78 million, according to city records.

Kohl's sells clothing for men, women and children with its exclusive labels and national brands, such as Gloria Vanderbilt, Simply Vera Wang, Abbey Dawn (Avril Lavigne), Elle (Elle magazine), Fila Sport, Chaps (Ralph Lauren), Daisy Fuentes, Levi's and Carter's.

The stores sell cosmetics, fragrances, jewelry, purses, shoes, gift items, luggage, housewares, appliances, home decor and seasonal items at moderate prices. Among the housewares are pots and pans and cooking utensils from the Food Network cable TV channel, including product lines from personalities Rachel Ray and Bobby Flay.

The only other Kohl's in The Telegraph area is at 2120 Troy Road in Edwardsville. That 80,000- square-foot-store opened in October 2003 in the former Kmart building.

Throughout the United States, Kohl's has 47 environmentally friendly stores, with 45 stores being Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) pre-certified at the silver level by the U.S. Green Building Council.

Wickenhauser said the Alton store is one of the LEED locations because it is new construction. The Alton Kohl's recycles cardboard and other materials and has water- and electricity-conserving features.

"It has a highly efficient cooling and heating system and occupant-sensor lighting in the stock room, break rooms and offices," she said.

Unlike the Edwardsville store, Alton's Kohl's also has front display windows, seating areas in dressing rooms and modern checkout lanes.

"It's a much different look, but it has the same, great merchandise," Wickenhauser said.

The general contractor was S.M. Wilson and Co. of St. Louis.

In February, the city of Alton allowed a land easement near Homer Adams Parkway so Kohl's could put up a pylon sign and install utilities, the only assistance from the city. The corporation is required to maintain the sign, lights and other parts in good condition, according to its agreement with Alton.

The Menomonee, Wis.-based chain announced in a news release that it is opening its 1,004th store this fall, including three locations in Illinois that will bring the state's total to 61. Its corporate Web site says Kohl's opened 28 stores during the first six months of 2008, bringing the number of stores to 957 in 47 states.

It also says Kohl's plans to open 50 stores and remodel 60 others in fiscal year 2009.

The company has a philanthropic program, Kohl's Cares for Kids, for which it has raised $102 million for children's health and educational initiatives throughout the United States.

linda-weller@thetelegraph.com

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