The Marquis at Williamsburg in Upper York County is slated to get a Sam’s Club.
Sam’s Club Spokesperson Mark Scott confirmed Wednesday the club retailer is planning to open the store. Sam’s Club committed to the project before news broke in September of the bid by developer Shawn Todd to add retail space and 650 homes to the development, though the identity of the club retailer was kept confidential until now. The Sam’s Club will operate a gas station at the site in addition to its store.
Scott said there is not yet an official timeframe for when the new Sam’s Club will open.
“Along with its history, Williamsburg is a dynamic area with small businesses, families and emerging economic growth, and we feel like we can be a positive part of the community,” Scott said in an email. “We hope to build long-term relationships in the region. We expect to create approximately 175 new jobs in the area, and provide high-quality merchandise and services to families and small businesses. We want to be a part of Williamsburg’s continued economic development.”
The Sam’s Club is the largest part of the retail addition to the development, taking up 136,500 square feet of the more than 237,000 square feet of new commercial space that will be built at the site. Three other retailers have agreed to set up shop at the Marquis — a 55,000 square foot specialty goods retailer, a national brand fast casual dining restaurant and a national fast food establishment — however their identities have not yet been revealed.
The Marquis already has Target, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Kohl’s, JCPenney and Best Buy, and those retailers have all signed long-term agreements to remain at the Marquis, according to Todd, whose company purchased the development in 2011.
Todd did not return a call seeking comment.
The York County Board of Supervisors approved the expansion at the Marquis at a meeting in November. During that meeting, Attorney Greg Davis of Kaufman & Canoles spoke on behalf of Todd.
“A national tenant like this, a retailer of this power and reputation, attracts what we call follow on retail,” Davis said. He said that since a letter of intent from that retailer had been executed, the developer, Todd Interests, has fielded requests from restaurants and a national hobby chain.
Without the club retailer, Todd said he wouldn’t have moved forward with the residential development.
Wal-Mart, which owns Sam’s Club, is already the fourth largest employer in York County. Only the U.S. Coast Guard Station, the York County School Division and the Yorktown Naval Weapons Station employ more people, according to the York County Office of Economic Development’s Annual Report for 2013. Sam’s Club currently has 16 locations in Virginia.
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