The Peterson Cos. said Wednesday that work has begun on The Promenade at Virginia Gateway — a 300,000-square-foot retail center in Prince William County that will be anchored by a 79,000-square-foot BJ’s Wholesale Club. BJ’s is under construction and should be open by the end of the year.
The center is expected to draw a mix of retail, dining and entertainment uses, including a 12- to 14-screen movie theater. The entire project is scheduled to be ready in fall 2012.
“We are pleased at the level of interest from retailers and restaurants who want to be a part of the highly-desirable Gainesville community and The Promenade at Virginia Gateway,” Taylor Chess, senior vice president, retail, for The Peterson Cos. said in a statement.
Located at the Interstate 66/Route 29 interchange, Virginia Gateway is the commercial core of the Gainesville community, offering more than one million square feet of retail, restaurants, office, and hotel.
“The expansion of Virginia Gateway further demonstrates the strength of the commercial/retail core of Gainesville and Prince William’s commitment to business,” said Corey A. Stewart, chairman of the Prince William Board of County Supervisors.
Apparently, Peterson has backed away from its promise to bring NW Prince William County 500,000 sg. feet in new, upscale shopping, and instead, with no notice, changed its plans to yet another redneck village. Woo Hoo, BJ’s Wholesale, and a movie theater, vice Belks department store, fine dining, a walking area with fountains, etc. Notice that Peterson, without explanation, withdrew its beautiful sketchs of the ‘upscale’ shopping area, and has not replaced them. Combined with ‘Jiffy-Lube Live logo replacing Nissan Pavilion, and now BJ’s box warehouse, we have now been relegated to another redneck village. Well done PWC and Peterson!
--Fritz of Gainesville
May. 28, 2011 at 03:38 PM
I completely agree with the other comment. What an utter disappointment. BJ’s is a trashy big box store that has no place in a community that is trying to bring a little class to PWC.
--Dan of Gainesville
Jun. 5, 2011 at 12:09 PM
We should all boycott the construction of BJ’s in what Peterson called the upscale shopping area. Of the 3 (Costco, Sam’s Club and BJ’s) they have selected the least desirable. But none of them belongs in the so called upscale shopping center.
Peterson should pack up their trailers and leave before they deliver more damage to the Virginia Gateway.
We are totally disappointed. The greedy Company is rushing to put something in place so they can make profit rather then wait it out for the appropriate time to bring what they have promised to the community.
Cecil of Ganesville
Sep. 14, 2011 at 09:12 AM