Updated: HomeGoods Opens March 25 in Maple Grove

Updated March 8, 2012

The new Maple Grove HomeGoods location is scheduled to open 8 a.m. March 25, according to Robyn Arvedon, manager of public relations. The information was also confirmed in a March 8 press release from the business. On the grand opening day, the first 250 shoppers at the Maple Grove location will receive a free reusable HomeGoods shopping bag while supplies last, according to a press release.

The 25,000 square-foot store will be the eighth HomeGoods store to open in the Minneapolis area. The store will occupy the former Circuit City site at The Fountains at Arbor Lakes in Maple Grove.

"We are excited to open a new HomeGoods in Maple Grove," HomeGoods President Ken Canestrai said in a press release. "With value playing a critical role in consumers' shopping decisions, we are confident that our off-price concept of offering high-quality fashions at incredible values will make HomeGoods a welcome addition to the area."

Arvedon said staffing is complete for the new store. The Maple Grove store is expected to have approximately 60 full and part-time employees.

Grand opening day hours (March 25) will be 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Regular hours after the opening date are 9:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday.

Next door to HomeGoods, construction is currently underway for another new business - .

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Editor's note: For the original article on HomeGoods moving to Maple Grove, read below.

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Original article Aug. 2011: A new store is moving into The Fountains at Arbor Lakes in Maple Grove. HomeGoods, an off price home-furnishings store, plans to open in the old Circuit City building.

"We're excited to set up shop in Maple Grove," HomeGoods Spokesperson Phil Tracey said, as he confirmed the store will open in Maple Grove. "It's a vibrant, thriving area that we're thrilled to be a part of."

“I think it’s a really good fit for Maple Grove and for the area,” Renia Faas said. The Maple Grove resident and frequent shopper of the Fountains says she is glad to see the empty store front filled again.

“I don’t want this area to turn into an abandoned downtown,” she said. “I know we’re a little far away from that, but there are several vacancies in this area that all seemed to have happen at once.”

Faas is referring to several changes at The Fountains of Arbor Lakes and its sister shopping center The Shoppes at Arbor Lakes. Circuit City, World Market and Ultimate Electronics have recently went out of business leaving prime real estate unused.

According to a report done by NorthMarq, a Minneapolis based firm that offers a variety of commercial real estate services, commercial vacancy rates are improving. At the end of 2010 vacancy rates were sitting at about 20 percent in the metro and have improved slightly in the first half of the year to 19 percent.

“I believe Maple Grove is fairing a little better than other cities struggling to fill commercial property,” Maple Grove Community Development Director Dick Edwards said. “However, we know that right now is a tough time to attract new businesses so we are happy to see the spaces turn over quickly.”

Edwards said the new tenants won’t need to do much upgrading since the building is just a few years old. “They should be able to move in fairly quickly.”

Homegoods is owned by TJX Companies, the same company that owns T.J.Maxx and Marshalls. It will be the company’s eighth HomeGoods store in the state, adding to its more than 300 stores across the country. 

The store boasts its unique collection of home goods that are 20 to 60 percent cheaper than items found in specialty stores.

“I’m really excited about having a HomeGoods here,” resident Marcia Nevills said. She shops in the area at least twice a month and says she makes trips to other nearby cities just to browse at a HomeGoods store. “You can find a little bit of everything in that store so I am pumped to see it come to town. It’ll be great to have one so close.”

While there has been mention of the store opening the fall of 2011, Tracey believes spring 2012 is a more likely timeframe.