Eagan becoming a retail powerhouse

Eagan, a suburb that never used to be known as a retail powerhouse, will soon debut its second major retail development in two years.

Twin Cities Premium Outlets opened in 2014. Central Park Commons, about 2 miles away from the outlets, will be dedicated Oct. 6.

The former 50-acre Lockheed Martin site has been transformed into a six-section, mixed-use development. The 434,000-square-foot commons is already home to Hy-Vee and Hobby Lobby, which opened last month. A Marshalls and HomeGoods combo store opened Thursday.

According to a 2016 research and forecast report from Colliers International, Central Park Commons represented 33 percent of all new retail development in the Twin Cities in the second quarter.

"There were dire predictions after Lockheed Martin pulled out and Northwest Airlines was sold," said Tom Garrison, spokesman for the city of Eagan. The former Northwest Airlines property is being redeveloped by the Minnesota Vikings.

As residents were asked about new uses for the large Lockheed Martin campus, many residents said they wanted more retail opportunities.

With more major retailers opening in the Commons, Eagan's retail landscape is beginning to resemble Maple Grove or Woodbury.

"We have a wonderful site with access, traffic counts and visibility," said John Johannson, a developer overseeing the project for CSM Properties. "It's fortunate that the developer, the city and tenants with long-term commitments all came together at the right place at the right time."

TJX Cos. — which owns Marshalls, T.J. Maxx and HomeGoods and arguably one of the country's most successful retailers for bricks and mortar — also will open another brand under its umbrella, a Sierra Trading Post, on Oct. 20.

The outdoor gear, apparel, footwear and pet products retailer, with stores in only six other states, follows the TJX formula of offering everyday discounts on brand names. Sierra sells brands such as Columbia, North Face, Marmot, Woolrich, Carhartt and Barbour. In addition to everyday discounts of 25 percent or more, it will also have a clearance section for even greater discounts. It will be the first Sierra Trading Post store in Minnesota.

Nearly 30 tenants are expected to open in the center located at Pilot Knob and Yankee Doodle roads.

In November, Total Wine & More, Ulta and the Tile Shop are set to open. DSW Shoe Warehouse is expected to open in April 2017. Other tenants will include AT&T, Xfinity, Orangetheory Fitness, Bank of America, Five Below dollar store and Men's Wearhouse. Negotiations for a Petco are in process.

Restaurants will be mostly concentrated in one of the complex's six clusters and will include Punch Pizza, R Taco (previously Rusty Taco), Cafe Zupas, Piada Italian Street Food, Tavern of Eagan and Naf Naf Grill, all of which are expected to open in 2017. The dining will overlook a creek, a pond, waterfall and fountains on the northeast corner of the complex on Pilot Knob Road.

Fairview Health Services will open a 42,000-square-foot, two-story medical office building in mid-December. Fairview already operates a clinic nearby and will move services to the new, larger facility.

John Ewoldt • 612-673-7633