Big box stores break ground in Wasilla

WASILLA — Small business has been the backbone of the Mat-Su Valley economy, but the retail community is starting to think inside the big box. Large corporations like Wal-Mart and Lowes have already found a foothold here, and the area’s fast-paced growth is attracting others. Target and Sportsmen’s Warehouse are under construction bringing retail and jobs.

With the demolition of the Cottonwood Creek Mall complete, crews working under the direction of Neeser Construction Inc. are laying the groundwork for the new Target department store at the corner of the Parks and Palmer-Wasilla highways.

“In the next couple of weeks we’ll have the slabs poured,” said Clayton Larson, site superintendent for Neeser Construction.

While Target will be the backbone of the 162,000-square-foot development, the big picture includes a mall that will house other local and national businesses, he said. With a projected opening date of October 2008, construction crews will work through the winter.

“The weather shouldn’t be a problem,” he said about working throughout the winter.

The project is still in its initial stages with an average of 30 to 40 workers are on-site daily to maintain the schedule, Larson said, adding the construction schedule is “right where we should be.”

Sportsman’s Warehouse is also under construction along the Parks Highway.

Brad Martin, a superintendent for Eckman-Mitchell Construction, which is overseeing the project, said work is on schedule with plans to finish building by Nov. 9. The Sportsman’s Warehouse Web site announces the store’s grand opening for Nov. 10.

Eckman-Mitchell is based out of Salt Lake City, Utah, but Martin said an exclusive contract with Sportsman’s Warehouse allows the contractor to travel all over the United States building the outdoor sporting goods stores. This prior experience helps speed the construction process, taking about 10 weeks to complete a 60,000-square-foot building.

Although the general contractor company is from the Lower 48, most of the workforce is hired locally, Martin said. “We have about 30 to 50 people on the job every day, and about 70 percent are local.”

Contact Chris Gillow at 352-2284 or chris.gillow@frontiersman.com.