Old Navy sets sail to Northgate

Friday, January 1, 1904

photo The new location of Old Navy at Northgate Mall in Hixson, Tenn.

Old Navy's store in Hixson is saying "Ahoy, matey" to Northgate Mall.

The clothing retailer is leaving its longtime location at Oak Park Town Center and will shift a couple of miles down Highway 153 to space inside the mall.

Denika Terrell, the store's manager, said plans are to open in the mall site by the end of next January.

She said that while the merchandise will stay the same, the new location near Applebee's restaurant will be "a Project One store" featuring an all-white look with futuristic neon lighting. Project One was implemented by the retailer a few years ago to heighten the customer experience, according to the company.

The new Old Navy store that will go in the footprint of a former bookstore will have 14,700 square feet, a little less than the 18,000 square feet it now occupies, according to CBL.

Katie Reinsmidt, senior vice president for investor relations and corporate investments for mall owner CBL & Associates Properties Inc., said the company is executing its effort to revitalize the shopping center.

She said work is ongoing on mall property on new retail space that will hold a Ross Dress for Less and Michael's Arts & Crafts. That's part of the work Chattanooga-based CBL is doing to revamp the shopping center it bought for $11.5 million in cash about a year and a half ago.

Clint Wolford, vice president of Wolford Development, said his company already is working on releasing the Old Navy space at Oak Park and it has a solid prospect. Wolford said company officials also hope soon to announce a new tenant for 30,000 square feet of space that formerly was a Goody's location.

Reinsmidt said CBL continues to work on other retailers to bring into Northgate. She said an Auntie Anne's pretzel store will open soon at the mall.

The store announcements so far are "a good first step" in bringing new retail to Hixson, she said.

Contact Mike Pare at mpare@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6318.