TYLER (TYLER MORNING TELEGRAPH) - Garden Ridge in Tyler has opened earlier than expected.
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The national home décor and garden center chain announced it is now open with a sign on the building -- the former Wal-Mart Super Center at 3900 Troup Highway.
After sitting vacant for more than five years, the facility sprung back to life in May after Garden Ridge signed a contract to lease the building. Renovations were made on the 125,000-square-foot facility and the target date for opening was Aug. 1, John Kaufman, co-owner of JKS-Tyler 1044 LLC, which owns the building, said in May.
Garden Ridge merchandise includes art and décor, holiday décor, botanicals, patio and garden, home textiles, furniture, housewares and apparel. The chain has 50 stores in 18 states across the country, including 17 in Texas, according to www.garden ridge.com.
Representatives from Garden Ridge could not be reached for comment.
Kaufman is co-owner of JKS Investment Group, of Los Angeles, and said the company came to Tyler in 2006, liked the city and looked for property to purchase. They formed JKS-Tyler 1044 LLC, a single asset entity, and bought the building in December 2006. He said Wal-Mart moved out in early 2007 and the facility has sat vacant since.
Kaufman said they still have a 4,500-square-foot facility right next to the entrance and a space just under 4,000-square-foot that housed Wal-Mart's Tyler Center for lease.
Wal-Mart closed the location at 3900 Troup Highway and replaced it with a newly constructed store at 5050 Troup Highway in 2006. In September 2008, Beaumont residents escaping Hurricane Ike fled to Tyler and about 1,600 evacuees were housed in the building.
