By CATHY JETT/The Free Lance-Star

They'll include Sonic Drive-in, known for its carhop service, plus California Tortilla and a proposed sports-themed Glory Days Grill.

Among the anchor stores will be a Marshalls, which advertises that it sells department-store-type brands for less than its competitors. The company used to have a location next to the Michaels in front of Spotsylvania Mall.

The businesses were attracted to Cosner's Corner because of the area's high rate of growth, Central Park's success and the fact that SuperTarget will be an anchor store, said Dawn Hoover, Silver Cos. vice president for commercial sales and leasing.

"Once SuperTarget commits to an area, other businesses follow," she said. "It's like a domino effect. They know that [Super Target] does their homework."

That was certainly the case for Rockville, Md.-based California Tortilla, said President Robert Phillips.

"The primary reason is our faith in the Silver Cos.," he said. "They do a great job. SuperTarget and Home Depot will be fabulous draws for us."

He also noted the rapid population growth in the area and the lack of competition for California Tortilla, a small chain known for its burritos.

According to census figures posted on the Silver Cos. Web site, the population within a 20-mile radius of Cosner's Corner is expected to reach 335,363 by 2009, and have an average household income of $88,112.

The shopping center, which faces U.S. 1 and extends to Interstate 95, also will have a number of retailers that already are in Central Park, including Dress Barn, Rockaway Bedding, Radio Shack and Asylum Skate, Wake and Board.

Other familiar names from the Fredericksburg big box development will include China Jade, Five Guys, MaggieMoo's and Panera Bread, as well as Chevy Chase Bank and Bank of America.

"They've been very successful in Central Park, and they see Cosner's Corner as another dynamic project they want to be a part of," Hoover said.

While several retailers and restaurants are either going out of business or have gone out of business in Central Park, the problem was at the corporate level, not with the big box development, she said.

The OshKosh B'Gosh store that is closing, for example, was one of the company's 15 new concept stores nationwide, Hoover said. All are being shuttered.

Cosner's Corner also will have an Arby's, the seventh to open locally, and a Vinny's Italian Grill & Pizza, the fourth for the area.

The shopping center, which will feature traditional elements designed to blend in with area architecture, is expected to open with most of its shops, restaurants and other businesses in place in mid- to late-summer. The SuperTarget, for example, will open July 23. It is one of three days each year that Target Corp. holds openings.

"Our goal is to open as many of these retailers simultaneously as possible," Hoover said.

When completed, Cosner's Corner will have three levels, or terraces. The level fronting U.S. 1 will have multitenant buildings with such businesses as an ABC store, Bank of America, The Barber Shop, California Tortilla, China Jade, Miller Oil, Sonic, Panera Bread, Super Cuts and Verizon.

Anchor stores including Super Target, Marshall's and an office superstore will be on the top terrace, along with Dress Barn, Great Clips, Quiznos and possibly a shoe store.

In between will be a number of the smaller retail stores, restaurants and other businesses typically found in a big box center, including a day-care center, dry cleaner and nail salon.

It also will include Arby's, Chase Bank, Five Guys, Vinny's and possibly Glory Days, which will be a family-oriented eatery with a vintage sports theme. There also will be a Daily Grind, a new coffee shop that also will have a location in Celebrate Virginia North.

A planned 38-acre expansion at U.S. 1 and Spotsylvania Parkway will include the area's fourth Home Depot, if it wins zoning approval from the Spotsylvania County Board of Supervisors. That would bring the total amount of retail space in the development to 1.5 million square feet.

It will still be smaller than Central Park, which has 2.2 million square feet of retail space.

Hoover said she expects Cosner's Corner will attract shoppers from both that area and throughout the region.

"Cosner's Corner will offer one-stop shopping," Hoover said.

"You can come here, you can bank, you can shop for apparel, office supplies, groceries, everything you need. That was the purpose."

Date published: 11/10/2005

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