T.J. Maxx relocates from Gurnee Mills to Grand Hunt Center

GURNEE – Popular off-price retailer T.J. Maxx has moved out of its longtime home at Gurnee Mills, but bargain hunters need not be disappointed. The store will remain in Gurnee, having relocated to the Grand Hunt Center between Ulta Beauty and Best Buy.

The grand opening is Thursday. Reusable bags will be given to the first 1,000 customers.

"I am happy to see that T.J. Maxx is remaining in Gurnee with a new site. I know many area residents enjoy shopping there,” Gurnee Mayor Kristina Kovarik said.

Julie Fallon, a public relations representative for T.J. Maxx, would not specify why the store pulled out of Gurnee Mills, but stated, “We are always assessing and reviewing our real estate strategies and our decision to relocate the Gurnee Mills store reflects that thinking.”

Keeping T.J. Maxx open in Gurnee is a win for the village, Kovarik said.

“It is always a possibility that a store could leave our area," Kovarik said. "T.J. Maxx could have moved out of the village, but I doubt that was on the table considering we are a regional shopping destination and draw from a large area.”

T.J.Maxx, which opened its first store in 1977, has grown to more than 1,000 stores in 49 states and Puerto Rico. The store features fashion and accessories, jewelry, home goods, beauty and pet products, toys and more.

The new store is approximately 25,750 square feet and features an easy to shop layout, bright and spacious dressing rooms and a single line queue for faster checkout.

“We are pleased to provide a new store in Gurnee, delivering value and an exciting selection of merchandise to serve the needs of customers,” stated T.J. Max President Richard Sherr in a press release. “With thousands of new items from top designers and brands arriving in stores weekly from around the world, shoppers will discover a new store full of amazing values every time they visit.”

Employment opportunities

Associates from the former location have accepted the opportunity to work in the new store, Fallon said. The store is also hiring new associates. Those interested can contact the store directly or visit the TJX jobs website at www.tjxjobs.com.

PADS donation

To celebrate the grand opening, T.J.Maxx will present a $5,000 donation to PADS Lake County on Thursday.

“We take our support of the many communities we serve to heart and are deeply committed to adding value to people’s lives by supporting programs designed to benefit others,” Fallon said. “As part of T.J. Maxx’s commitment to be a neighbor of choice, the store actively sought out an organization in the community that focused on families and making a positive impact on those in need. PADS met those requirements, and we feel very honored to be able to support them.”

PADS Executive Director Joel Williams will be present to accept the donation, which he said will help the nonprofit organization continue its mission of aiding the homeless.

“The donation we receive is going to go right into the programs and services that we offer to make sure people can get out of homelessness," Williams said. "Whatever services an individual may need, we’re going to use that to help them accomplish their goals."

The new T.J. Maxx store will also join all other stores nationwide in sponsoring a child who participates in Save the Children’s U.S. Programs. T.J.Maxx also supports Save the Children, Autism Speaks and Joslin Diabetes Center with annual in-store fundraising campaigns.

Plans for former location

The Simon Property Group, which owns Gurnee Mills, is working with some new potential tenants for mall that will be announced soon, Kovarik said, but there are no immediate plans for the T.J. Maxx space.

"Gurnee Mills is continually scouting the latest and most relevant retail experiences for our shoppers, from the addition of Macy's to the most recent addition of Portillo's. Changes in the marketplace offer us opportunities to add fresh and relevant new retail, dining and entertainment options that will serve the community," Blair Hickey, a public relations representative for Gurnee Mills said.

Kovarik said the new Portillo's has drawn "record traffic to the north end of the mall and there has been quite a bit of interest and inquiries about space to take advantage of the crowds.“

"There are a couple of new stores in the works, but nothing I can talk about yet," Kovarik said. “At a minimum, letters of intent are signed. I'm very excited about the level of interest from new stores that are considering leasing space at Gurnee Mills, which continues to make significant investments in the mall.”

If you go:

T.J. Maxx

Where: 6521 Grand Ave., Gurnee

When: Regular store hours will be 9:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday

Info: Call 847-855-1585 or visit www.tjmaxx.tjx.com for more information.