Did This Demolition Make Way for Kohl's: 2012 in Review?

Editor's Note: As the year winds down, Ames Patch is looking back at some of the stories that made you talk, cry, laugh or just scratch your head.

This story originally ran: June 26, 2012

Ames city officials have confirmed the Kohl's rumor is in fact true.

The retail chain plans on opening another department store here in 2013. It would make a home in a building separate from the North Grand Mall building but on the same site, according to a report in the Iowa State Daily.

Ames Tribune reported that it had a copy of the lease. It's on file at the Story County Recorder's Office in Nevada. The 20-year agreement has an option of a five-year extension. It's signed with Grand Center Partners the owner of the plot of land the store would be built on.

However Kohl's isn't confirming anything. In an email to Ames Patch, Sydney Hofer, Kohl's Department Stores Senior Public Relations Manager wrote:

“At this time, we’ve not announced plans to open a new store in your community. Kohl’s has an ongoing real estate assessment process. At any given time, Kohl’s is reviewing sites in communities nationwide. We do not comment on real estate speculation,” Hofer stated.

The mall's developer, GK Development, has said that a group of tenants would be interested in coming to the mall site once they made some changes.

The development plan included demolishing the former Sears auto center, former Wells Fargo, former Walgreens and former Furman buildings and renovating the former Sears store.

Late last year officials with TJ Maxx said they planned on opening a location in Ames but would not say where. 

Since this story ran, Kohl's announced a grand opening in March and TJ Maxx plans an opening this spring. Both stores are located at the North Grand Mall.