CINCINNATI — Good news for West Side shoppers:
The owners of the Western Hills Plaza are going to tear down the abandoned Sears store and replace it with a fast casual-style restaurant and seven retail businesses, according to the Westwood Civic Association.
The association posted a rendering on its Facebook page Thursday showing how the businesses will fit in two new buildings at the corner of Glenway Avenue and Werk Road.
The new, unnamed businesses intend to open in late 2020, according to the post.
“Westwood is hot,” tweeted Henry Frondorf, president of the civic association.
Frondorf added that the plaza owners intend to invest $17 million in new construction. The plaza is operated by Brixmor Property Group, which owns and operates more than 400 retail centers across the country, according to its website.
The Westwood-Green Township area has been hard hit over the years by the loss of some favorite retailers and department stores. But things have been looking up again in recent weeks for shoppers and diners alike.
A Kroger Marketplace opened last weekend at 5830 Harrison Ave., in Green Township.
Thursday’s news follows a recent announcement that an Olive Garden will replace the Friday’s that closed at 6330 Glenway, less than a mile away from the plaza in Green Township.
An International House of Pancakes will open soon in the property once filled by City Barbeque and A Noodles & Company at 6475 Glenway, also in Green Township.
Sears and the nearby Toys ‘R Us on Werk Road in Green Township closed last year, preceded years ago by Shillito’s/Lazarus and McAlpin’s/Dillard's.
Some of the void has been filled by Target at the Western Hills Plaza and a Walmart Supercenter at 2322 Ferguson Road in Westwood, along with Meijer and Kohl's in the 6500 block of Harrison Avenue in Green Township.
