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BJ's could open by autumn

The developer says Market Square at Tampa Palms will welcome its first shoppers by September or even August.

By EMILY NIPPS
Published February 3, 2006

TAMPA PALMS - For at least three or four years now, people in New Tampa have known about developer Warren Kinsler's plans for a Tampa Palms shopping center.

They heard the rumors that Borders was coming, and then they heard the confirmation that a retail warehouse called BJ's was coming instead. They heard the 306,303-square-foot center would be open for business in the fall of 2004, then the winter of 2005.

It is now 2006, and there's not a shop in sight on the property. In fact, the 46-acre site is quite barren.

But wait until September or perhaps even August, Kinsler says. The center, to be called Market Square at Tampa Palms, will finally welcome its first shoppers by then.

That's Kinsler's final answer, despite how unfinished the site looks right now.

"BJ's will be open by then, for sure," Kinsler said. "It really doesn't take that long to build once the groundwork is done. Once (construction) goes vertical, you'd be surprised at how quickly it goes up."

Kinsler said he expected construction to begin by the end of this week and that more tenants would be announced in the next few weeks. He did say that Bed, Bath & Beyond, a major home goods retail chain, would probably be part of the plan.

"That's not a confirmation, per se," he said. "Basically, if I want to go that route, it looks real good.

"I'm really excited about the tenant list. It's pretty much in. I'm just dotting my i's and crossing my t's at this point."

Emily Nipps can be reached at 813 269-5313 or nipps@sptimes.com

[Last modified February 2, 2006, 11:27:10]