Settlers Market celebrated its grand opening Friday with a ribbon cutting ceremony and an announcement about future businesses.
The Settlers Market property was purchased Jan. 31, 2011, and groundbreaking took place almost a year ago, on May 15, 2012. The project has been a joint venture between Westmoreland Partners, LLC and Federal Capital Partners.
“When we came down here and looked at this [property], it was because we were sent by one of our big box enterprises,” said Howard Biel, a partner at Westmoreland Partners.
In the end, the location wasn’t right for the company, but was right for a mixed-use development with retail stores, other businesses, restaurants and townhouses.
Biel would not reveal the name of the company that sent him, but said, “It’s a store the county would love to have.”
Friday’s ribbon-cutting was attended by several James City County staff members who aided in the development, and Supervisors John McGlennon (Roberts), Jim Icenhour (Jamestown) and Mary Jones (Berkeley).
County Administrator Robert Middaugh spoke at the ceremony; he said the original project was the wrong project for the market but Settlers Market has brought in tenants that have never been to James City County.
“They’re not simply more of the same, but are the kind and quality our citizens are looking for,” Middaugh said.
The stores are expected to be good for the tourism economy because they will draw visitors from outside markets that don’t offer these stores.
Icenhour echoed Middaugh’s sentiments, and said he was extremely pleased when the project was proposed two years ago and said the shopping center has been a tremendous help to the county. The only drawback he saw was the cobblestone part of the intersection at Casey Boulevard and Settlers Market Boulevard.
“If you need any help removing those cobblestones, I’ll bring in an airstrike,” he offered the developers.
Two buildings are under construction along Casey Boulevard as part of the Settlers Market development and are expected to be completed with businesses opening there in the early fall. Noodles and Company will open in a portion of one of the new buildings that’s closest to Michaels. Directly across the street in the other building being constructed on Casey Boulevard, Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt will open. Negotiations are under way for other spaces in these two buildings.
Zoës Kitchen will be located in a building of its own on Market Boulevard behind Long and Foster.
Another building will be constructed at the intersection of Casey Boulevard and Settlers Market Boulevard for Petco. A building in between Petco and Zoës Kitchen will be constructed, and negotiations are under way to fill it.
A building will also be constructed across Settlers Market Boulevard from Stein Mart.
Townhouses are planned for two parcels on Settlers Market Boulevard near the intersection of Casey Boulevard. Biel expects construction activities to begin on the townhouses in 2014, with the entire Settlers Market project being completed in 2015.
