CLARKSBURG -- Pier 1 Imports and a Ruby Tuesday restaurant will be locating across from the new development above New Pointe Plaza, according to city and development officials.
Plans received by the city's engineering department March 16 show that the new stores will be built on parcels next to Ryan's Steakhouse. The rest of the development is expected to be home to at least one large anchor store and have spaces for numerous other smaller shops as well as the new 3,000-seat cinema.
"The theater is under construction right now. The other anchor is the trigger to the rest of the project," said Jim Lewis of THF Realty, the site developer.
"We don't have a deal yet, but when we get that other anchor I think we'll get enough shops to fill in the spaces."
Lewis declined to comment about what other stores are in negotiations, but did say that Pier 1 and Ruby Tuesday were "looking very good."
Lewis was in Clarksburg on Thursday and met with city officials to give an update on the development.
"I think this is an indication of how there's a groundswell of development (in Clarksburg)," City Manager Tom Vidovich said. "It's no small thing that Jim Lewis and THF have committed millions of dollars to make that property buildable. They could very well have elected to invest their available money in other cities and other states.
"I think it's an extraordinary indicator of particularly his sense that Clarksburg is economically viable and worthy and its future is worthy of extraordinary amounts of capital investment."
Mayor David Kates and Councilwoman Becky Lake both said they were excited about the prospect of even more shopping and dining opportunities coming to Clarksburg.
"I think that when we hear rumors we're broke, it's wonderful when I can say I have facts that we are growing," Lake said.
Regional writer James Fisher can be reached at 626-1446 or by e-mail at jfisher@exponent-telegram.com.
