Published: November 17, 2007 11:01 pm      

JCPenney to take former Wal-Mart space

ASHLAND — JCPenney will build a 104,000 square-foot store at the Ashland Town Center in the space formerly occupied by Wal-Mart, mall officials said Saturday.

The store will be the first in Kentucky built to a new format with wider aisles and updated fixtures.

The opening is planned for August 2008, mall officials said.

“We are thrilled to finally announce this project,” said Merri Hurn, general manager of the mall.

The new store will be more than twice the size of the existing Penney store at the mall, said JCPenney general manager Kirk Bell, “and will allow us to provide even more of the merchandise and services that matter to our customers every day.”

“JCPenney has been doing business in Ashland for more than half a century, and I’m excited they are making an investment to insure they remain here for many years to come,” Mayor Steve Gilmore said.

Other mall updates to the mall are expected, including restroom remodeling, addition of a family restroom, and several interior updates, according to mall officials.

The redevelopment also will include Cheddar’s Casual Cafe, an 8,000 square-foot restaurant on the southeast end of the parking lot.

Mall owner Glimcher Realty Trust is working with several prospects interested in the current Penney store and hopes to have leases finalized by early spring 2008.