September 22, 2006

Kohl's Taking Shape in Burlington

Wisconsin-based department store chain in the middle of a nationwide expansion

By Josh Lintereur
Skagit Valley Herald

BURLINGTON -- Kohl's, a national retail store chain, has begun work on a more than 68,000-square-foot department store at the Burlington Crossing shopping center.

Construction began a little more than a month ago and should wrap up in early 2007, said Tim Clark, site manager for Sierra Construction, which has built stores for Kohl's elsewhere in the Northwest.

The Menomonee Falls, Wis.-based company hasn't announced an opening date and did not return a reporter's phone calls seeking comment.

According to documenats on file with the Burlington Planning Department, new Kohl's stores typically create 100 new jobs and average about $15 million in sales annually.

The new store, located just off of Burlington Boulevard on Marketplace Drive, will become the final major anchor store at Burlington Crossing.

According to Kohl's 2005 annual report, the company recorded more than $13 billion in sales last year and is currently in the middle of a major nationwide expansion.

By the end of this year, Kohl's will have opened 85 new locations, including stores in Lynwood, Bellingham, Covington, and Marysville. All are scheduled to open in either October or November.

By 2010, the company plans to be opnening more than 1,200 stores.

Kohl's locations typically carry an assortment of apparel, along with home products like small electronics, bedding and luggage.