Appliance store, gym headed to University City

University City Partners is reporting that an appliance and furniture store and a large gym are slated for a former Walmart store on JW Clay Boulevard.

The appliance and furniture store is Conn's, a smaller chain of stores with more than 80 locations from Arizona to South Carolina. Conn's would be 45,000 square feet, according to leasing information and a site plan posted online. The company has been trying to expand, including in the Carolinas. Conn's sells appliances, electronics and furniture, and offers in-house financing and rent-to-own plans.

The property is being leased by Tricor Partners, and you can view the listing online here. The other listed tenant is Titan Fitness, which operates several area gyms under the Fitness Connection name. The gym would take 60,000 square feet in the shopping center.

Here's what University City Partners wrote about the shopping center: "Florida-based Tricor International bought the 126,397 SF building and its 15.6-acre site at University Place in August 2013 for $5.4 million, tax records show. Tricor renamed the property the Shoppes at University Commons. Sales materials say that the building can be expanded by 26,583 square feet. “Additionally, +/- 15,000 SF of retail shop space is planned,” the marketing brochure says. The brochure notes that three spaces remain available to lease: 36,256 SF, 7,905 SF and 8,000 SF. All can be subdivided. Unless Tricor undertakes massive changes, the site should require no rezoning for new tenants. However, because the property is within University Place, the site is under review by the University Place Owners Association.

Publix in Steele Creek to open Oct. 1

Publix's newest Charlotte supermarket is set to open Oct. 1, the Florida-based company said Tuesday.

The store, in the Steele Creek Crossing shopping center at 12810 South Tryon St., will be Publix's fifth supermarket open in the Charlotte region. The company has three more stores set to open this year and five planned for next year, for a total of 13 locations.

The Steele Creek location was a former BI-LO location. Publix started overhauling it earlier this year. The finished store will employ 125.

Publix is entering an increasingly crowded local grocery market, with companies from Walmart to Whole Foods to Harris Teeter opening new locations and aggressively competing for customers' business.

Captain D's expanding in Charlotte

Captain D's, the fast-seafood chain, is planning to launch an expansion in Charlotte, the company said.

Captain D's is preparing to open 20 new stores in Charlotte over the next three to five years. As part of the chain's growth plans, Captain D's is looking at Charlotte as a "city hub," a spokesperson said. Captain D's currently has about eight Charlotte locations, so that would represent a major expansion of their local presence.

There's no information about exact locations yet, but we'll let you know when the Captain sails into town.

Affluence Home Fashions opens in Charlotte

A new fine linens store has opened in southwest Charlotte, offering pillowcases, sheets and more.

Affluence Home Fashions is open now off of South Tryon Street. The company held its grand opening last week. This is the company's first retail location (Affluence previously sold goods online, which it continues to do), and it will feature discounts and closeout sales.

Affluence's store

Here's Affluence's description of itself: "Affluence Home Fashions is a purveyor of fine linens, located in the Charlotte, NC area. Backed by decades of experience in the textile industry, our company brings you high-quality linens in the colors and weaves to make your bedroom your very own sanctuary and retreat. When you purchase sheets and bedding from Affluence Home Fashions, we make it our goal to ensure your complete satisfaction. Our customers are continually pleased by the superior quality of our products, and enjoy the quick shipping and excellent customer service."

American Girl to open Oct. 11 at SouthPark

American Girl is set to open its first Charlotte store on Saturday, Oct. 11 at SouthPark mall.

The store will of course feature a wide selection of dolls, accessories and clothing. And American Girl will also  offer a full range of doll services, from a doll hair salon to a "Creativi-tees" boutique where kids can design shirts for themselves and their dolls. There's also a 25-seat "casual bistro" with tea service.

The store is in the Macy's wing of SouthPark.

Northern Tool relocates Matthews store to Charlotte

Northern Tool + Equipment has relocated its local store from Matthews to an expanded location in Charlotte, on Sardis Road North in Crown Point Plaza off Independence Boulevard.

The Minnesota-based company sells, as you might guess, tools and equipment, ranging from fuel transfer pumps to pressure washers to drill presses. There are about 80 Northern Tool locations nationwide, including four in the Charlotte region.

Here's what the company has to say about the new store: "The customer experience is key to Northern Tool + Equipment’s success,” said Wade Mattson, vice president of marketing for Northern Tool + Equipment. “The relocated store features the latest and greatest from Northern Tool + Equipment, and offers everything from value-priced to top-of-the-line name brand tools. It also has a simple store design that gives local residents the shopping experience they deserve.”

The store is 13,410 sales square feet and will offer more than 8,000 products, including a complete line of pressure washers and accessories, generators, hand, power and air tools, trailer parts and accessories, material handling, automotive, and apparel."

Ballantyne Village opens new local marketplace

Ballantyne Village is opening a new market featuring local food and artisans. Called 3H Market, for homegrown, homemade and handmade, the market will be open twice a week, on Tuesday and Saturday.

Here's what Ballantyne Village has to say about the new market: "3H Market is here every Tuesday and Saturday, and it features homemade, homegrown and handmade items from local vendors. You'll find everything from local produce to grass-fed beef to candles and chocolates. It's located between Burger 21 and Abraham Joseph Fine Jewelers. Visit with us often as the selection and variety will change each week."