"'T.J. Maxx' is coming," Chavez Brown, superintendent at the construction site at the Route 6 Mall near Honesdale, said on Wednesday while peering through the safety fence.
First reported in December, the empty Kmart store location at the end of the mall had seen no visible action since closing in 2018. It's a different story now, as Sun Industrial, Inc., based in Richeyville, tears into the site and refashions it for a new retail experience.
Related:Retailer T.J. Maxx seeks to occupy former Kmart site in Honesdale
Sun Industrial is the general contractor, Brown said of his employer. He said they are completely renovating the former Kmart, from the façade to the inner utilities. He said they expect to complete their work by late May or early June of this year.
He said he did not have word on what businesses may occupy the other portions.
T.J. Maxx, a major brand-name and designer fashion retailer, will occupy a third of the large empty store space, taking 26,000 square feet. This is the third on the left (eastern) end, towards the rest of the mall.
Kate Macleod, Public Relations Manager for T.J. Maxx, offered no new statement about the progress, only repeating that they anticipate opening the store here, and will issue information on the grand opening will closer to the opening date.
T.J. Maxx is one of the retail company brands owned by TJX Companies, Inc. according to their website, and are ranked 75 in the 2022 Fortune 500 company listings. T.J. Maxx is the nation's largest off-price retailer, with more than 1,200 stores spanning 49 states and Puerto Rico. The company opened in 1977.
Among the merchandise categories listed online carried by T. J. Maxx are apparel for men, women and children, clothing accessories, jewelry, beauty aids, home accessories, and toys.
The nearest T. J. Maxx stores to Honesdale, Wayne County are located in Dickson City, Lackawanna County and Westfall Township, Pike County. There is also a T.J. Maxx in Stroudsburg, Monroe County.
Kmart occupied the far right (western) end of the Route 6 Mall once the mall opened in 1995. Kmart relocated there from the older, Route 6 Plaza portion next to the Route 6 Mall.
This article originally appeared on Tri-County Independent: Construction on new Wayne County T.J. Maxx underway at former Kmart