While negotiations remain underway for the future development of the Kings Crossing site at the intersection of Route 1 and North Kings Highway, a new venture has opened in the building previously occupied by Michael's Arts and Crafts.
National Wholesale Liquidators with 55 stores nationwide is now offering a wide array of merchandise, from clothing to furniture, at an average estimated savings of 20 to 30 percent off regular retail prices. Some items are going for as much as 60 percent less than regular retail, according to Michael Alvarado, director, NWL Merchandising.
"We buy direct from manufacturers as well as from merchants that are either going out of business or have over bought certain items. We offer both continuity in our merchandise and regular product change," Alvarado said. All merchandise is new.
Headquartered in Hempstead, New York, NWL has been in business for more than 25 years. It has stores located throughout the East Coast and the midwest, according to Alvarado.
"The Kings Crossing store is one of seven within the Washington, DC, metropolitan area," said Tony Adamson, manager, with more than 31 years in retail management. Twenty of those were spent with the former Washington area landmark retailer Woodward and Lothrop Department Store chain.
"We have everything in this store and it is displayed in a way that customers can enjoy their shopping experience. The aisle are wide, the merchandise is well displayed, the store is clean, the employees are helpful, and the price is right," he said.
There are only two NWL stores presently located in Northern Virginia. The other is at Seven Corner, Falls Church, according to Adamson. All stores recognize both VISA and MasterCard.
"We also promote employment of people who live in the neighborhood. The majority of our employees are local. Many live within walking distance of the store," he said.
ADAMSON HAS BEEN with the company since September 2004. Prior to assuming the management of the Kings Crossing store he held positions at various other NWL locations.
Opening on October 25, the store is located on the site of the planned Kings Crossing development which has been the center of controversy for the past two years. The 11 acre plus site, owned by Archon of Dallas, TX, is scheduled to become a mixed use development of retail and residential.
As the object of a tug-of-war between the Spring Bank Community Association and Mount Vernon District Supervisor Gerald Hyland on one side and Archon, and their developer, JPI Development Partners, Inc., of Vienna, VA, on the other, the ultimate use of the site is very much in limbo. Therefore, NWL has taken a one year lease with a month-to-month option, according to Gregg Lamb, senior vice president, JPI.
When asked how long the new store would be at that location, Adamson answered, "We plan to be here until we are put out."
At this point JPI/Archon has not filed a formal development plan with the Fairfax County Planning Commission. The primary element of disagreement between the parties is the percent of space to be allocated to retail/commercial ventures and residential use.
Both the association and Hyland have been pushing for a 50/50 split between retail/commercial and residential. The developers see the site as primarily residential with no more than 25 percent retail/commercial.
When asked if leasing the Michael's site to NWL would further prolong the hoped for development of the site, Hyland said, "Nothing could happen at this site for at least a year anyway. That's how long its going to take to get through the planning process."
Michael's has recently relocated to the newly revitalized Mount Vernon Shopping Center further south on Route 1. Archon decided to lease the vacated Michael's space to bring in some revenue, according to Lamb. "They needed to achieve some type of income because they've put a lot of money into this project," Lamb said.
"There are a variety of options that don't necessarily include redeveloping the site as we had planned," Lamb stated. The plot could remain a strip shopping area or be used as a single retail site under its existing zoning classification. The other occupant of the site, Chuck-E-Cheese restaurant, remains open and operating.