Belk Plans Rogers Store

Belk Inc. recently began construction of a 73,000-SF department store in Rogers’ Scottsdale Center. The store is scheduled to open in March.

“In this size store, we will be bringing the national famous brands,” said Lars Petersen, president of Belk’s western division in Greenville, S.C. “That is not done in this size store [by other retailers].”

Petersen said he was referring to brands such as Estee Lauder, Liz Claiborne, Clinique and Tommy Hilfiger. He said the Rogers store will carry “full-line soft goods” such as clothing as well as cosmetics and home products.

Petersen said the Rogers store will fall into the “mid-range” of Belk’s store sizes, which range from 50,000 SF to 220,000 SF. Belk said the store will represent a $6.8 million “investment” for the company.

Based in Charlotte, N.C., the 113-year-old company currently has 209 stores in 13 states. Belk plans to open eight stores next year. Belk had revenue of $2.14 billion in the fiscal year that ended Jan. 29, 2000.

The store will be Belk’s first in Northwest Arkansas. The privately-owned company has two stores in the state, in Paragould and Stuttgart.

Petersen said demographics indicated Northwest Arkansas would be a good location for a Belk store.