Coleman MarketPlace on schedule

By Bernard Baker

Published: May 3, 2008

Stores at Coleman MarketPlace should begin opening in late June and run through early September.

City Manager Jerry Gwaltney could not disclose when each store is going to open, but he said the majority of the openings will be in July.

“We’re pleased with the way things are moving,” Gwaltney said.

There’s no word regarding restaurant opening at Danville’s newest shopping center located off Central Boulevard. Gwaltney said Coleman MarketPlace will provide “significant restaurants.” Calls to North American Properties, Coleman MarketPlace’s developer, were not returned.

There were a couple of twists, earlier this week, in events at the shopping center.

Earlier in the week, Councilman T. David Luther said Kohl’s had backed out of coming to Danville.

“It was on a list. It may have been (discussed) in a closed meeting,” Luther said.

While early news releases about Coleman MarketPlace mentioned that a store like Kohl’s would fit the type of large departments they wanted, it was never on the list issued to the public.

“Kohl’s never had a site location,” Gwaltney said.

Gwaltney confirmed that Dick’s Sporting Goods is moving to a smaller location at Coleman MarketPlace.

“Nothing at this stage of the game has disappointed me about Coleman MarketPlace. It has well exceeded in overall square footage than what we had anticipated,” Gwaltney said.

Gwaltney also put to rest the rumor that Old Navy isn’t coming to Danville. He said Old Navy is coming, along with Home Depot, Ross and Marshall’s.

Target has announced it will hold its grand opening July 27.

Mayor Sherman Saunders said as long as Dick’s Sporting Goods is coming to Danville, it’s good enough for him.

“The main thing is to get them here,” he said.

Home Depot, earlier this week, announced the closing of 15 underperforming stores and the delays of opening about 50 stores. The company confirmed that no Virginia stores were affected by the reduction decision. Home Depot continues to offer jobs online.

Council candidate Fred Shanks is skeptical that traffic concerns have been addressed. He’s concerned about traffic jams along Piney Forest Road to the new bridge near Hobby Lobby and PetSmart.

“I’m concerned that if someone sits in traffic trying to get in or out of Coleman MarketPlace, they won’t come back,” Shanks said.

Saunders said council listened to city traffic officials and to the Virginia Department of Transportation about adjustments. He saw no reason to dispute their advice.

North American Properties is getting nearly $8 million in taxpayer incentives to build the 500,000-square-foot shopping center off Central Boulevard. 

• Contact Bernard Baker at or at (434) 791-7986.