Best Buy likely to open Lawrence store in June

Restaurants close to signing lease deals at site

Best Buy, the national electronics retailer, is planning to open its Lawrence store at Iowa and 31st streets by the end of June.

Officials with the construction company that is building the 30,500-square-foot store said Best Buy had scheduled a June 27 grand opening.

Kevin Krak, president of Gallant Construction, said work on the store was expected to be done by April 25, which could allow the store to hold a “soft opening” in the middle of June.

Mollie Juelich, Best Buy spokeswoman, wouldn’t confirm the grand opening date. She said it was the company’s policy not to comment on a store’s opening until a month before its opening date. But she did say the company would begin accepting applications for the store’s 150 jobs in late April or early May.

The store, which is next door to the new Home Depot, likely will have a pair of national restaurant chains as its other neighbors, according to the project’s chief real estate agent.

Christian Ablah of Classic Real Estate Inc. said he was close to completing deals with a Mexican restaurant and a steakhouse, though he declined to give names of the businesses until leases are signed.

“We’ve got leases going back and forth right now,” Ablah said. “We should have it wrapped up pretty soon. They’re both national restaurants, full-service, sit-down type of establishments.”

The project also includes 20,800 square feet of retail space that will be located near the 31st Street entrance to the Home Depot parking lot.

Ablah said he expected that space, which is split between two buildings, to house from six to eight retail businesses.

Construction is under way on a new gasoline station for the area. The station will be located just north of Commerce Plaza Gas & Mini Mart, 3034 Iowa, which is owned by Roger Flory. He will operate the new gasoline station which is scheduled to open in June. The old station will be razed to make room for one of the restaurants.

Best Buy likely will have a grand opening in June, according to officials with the construction company that is building the store near 31st and Iowa streets. Kevin Krak, president of Gallant Construction, said work on the store should be completed by April 25.