[an error occurred while processing this directive] Grand Island has evolved into a regional attraction for patrons 06/30/05
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Web-Posted Jun 30, 2005
Grand Island has evolved into a regional attraction for patrons


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Because of location and opportunities, Grand Island has evolved into a shopping mecca for residents in Central Nebraska and beyond.

Thanks to its wide and growing selection of stores, Grand Island is known to attract shoppers from an area from York to North Platte and from the South Dakota border to northern Kansas. On weekends, any survey of west Grand Island shopping sites will uncover vehicles from many of the state's 93 counties plus Kansas and other states.

Western Grand Island has seen tremendous growth over the past couple decades as a multitude of new shops and restaurants have opened their doors. Downtown Grand Island is being revitalized and offers many unique and speciality stores.

The largest concentration of Grand Island stores is in the Conestoga and Grand Island malls and the area in between. The Conestoga Mall, at 3404 W. 13th, has more than 60 stores, including its four anchor stores, Dillard's, J.C. Penney, Sears and Younkers.

Mall hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and noon to 6 p.m. Sundays.

A relatively new addition to shopping in Grand Island is the Westgate Shopping Mall. This facility is located on north Diers Avenue, just off Highway 281.

North on Webb Road is the Grand Island Mall with ShopKo, Hobby Lobby, Hastings Book, Music and Video Store and specialty shops.

The hours of stores in the mall vary. The mall itself opens at 8 a.m. Mondays through Fridays, at 10 a.m. Saturdays and at noon on Sundays.

For a unique shopping experience, some visitors choose to walk the historic downtown area, which encompasses about 25 blocks in the heart of town, from Eddy to Sycamore, and First to Fourth streets. Here shoppers will find interesting and unusual items in many of the art and antique stores, gift shops, specialty clothing stores and home furnishing stores. Also, a farmers' market has been added and is open Saturday mornings.

Many ethnic foods are available at cafes and grocery stores along Fourth Street, and shoppers can also find clothing and gift items from around the world.

At Eagle Run, near Webb Road and 13th street, Home Depot has added a store next to Gordmans and the former Albertson's grocery store, which has been purchased by Bag 'N Save. Ruby Tuesdays and the Platte Valley State Bank have opened there as well, and plans are to open a Baristas there this fall.

Additional shopping is offered in a string of discount stores located along Highway 281, from 13th Street to Capital Avenue. Those retail stores include K mart, Menards and Sam's Club. Restaurants, fast-food locations and convenience stores also can be found in that area.

Wal-Mart is currently available in the city, but soon Grand Island will boast not one, but two Wal-Mart supercenters.

A Wal-Mart supercenter will open on the north end of town, just off Capital Avenue, and another on the south end of town, at the corner of South Locust and Highway 34. Both will open on July 20, 2005.

Edgemark Development Services is developing a 220,000-square-foot commercial center on former drive-in theater property east of Highway 281 and north of Old Potash Highway.

Ultimately, the area will have five major stores and a number of smaller stores in between. Kohl's Department Store is set to be the anchor of the development. Off-price retailer T.J. Maxx -- a clothing, home furnishings and gift store -- will be located next to Kohl's. Both stores should be open in the fall of 2005.

Additional retail is being built at the K mart Plaza and along Diers Avenue.
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