La Vergne lands $20M retail center

By CHASITY GUNN
January 4, 2008
The Daily News Journal, Murfreesboro, TN


Rutherford County residents are getting another local shopping option.

Centrum SSI of Nashville plans to build a $20 million shopping center off Interstate 24 on Industrial Boulevard in La Vergne next to the new Colonial Town Park shopping center in Smyrna, which is being anchored by a SuperTarget.

Centrum purchased the 21 acres for $2.6 million from Jack Oman. The developer closed the deal Dec. 10, said Brad McNutt, a partner with Centrum SSI.

The property's location next to the new SuperTarget development and its exposure to I-24 attracted the developers to the area, McNutt said.

The new SuperTarget is scheduled to open in March. The Smyrna shopping center will also include a PetSmart, Staples and Ross Dress for Less.

McNutt believes the complex will be a "major retail area in the future, thanks to the Target next door, " he said.

The Shoppes of La Vergne is the proposed name of the center, but that may change if tenants desire a different name. No tenants have been named and a scheduled opening date has not been announced.

Centrum has hired Baker Storey McDonald Properties, a development firm in Nashville, to market the shopping complex and attract retailers.

Area leaders have high hopes for the new shopping center.

"Retail is where we have been working very hard trying to get a piece of the pie," said La Vergne Mayor Ronnie Erwin.

He said the city has a strong industrial base but few retail options.

"This new development will alleviate some of the pressures," said Holly Sears, vice president of economic development of the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce. "The city of La Vergne and the chamber have worked together to recruit retail into the market."

The city started working on the project 18 months ago, said Jerry Gann, the city's vice mayor. He said the property was rezoned for commercial development four or five months ago.

City officials didn't have exact numbers on how much sales tax the new shopping complex will generate.

Erwin said a department store or "any kind of clothing store would be great" in the complex. The development is in the pre-construction phase.