lets see we dont need dollar stores we dont need pizza joints, we dont need banks.
WE DO NEED A TARGET OR KOHLS. Come on tewksbury besides the businesses leaving so will the people!! Lets bring some shopping stores here. More jobs more taxes being paid to the town and more business to start opening up.. This is outrageous!!!

It truly is a shame it is leaving. Another empty building. Drive up rt 38 and there's trash and unkept frontage. Very disappointing and embarrassing. (Very thankful for the Country club).
I'm guessing it's leaving because of lack of sales due to location!? I try to avoid rt38 whenever possible because of the congestion. I shopped at Home Goods only on weekdays but was a frequent shopper.

WHY has Bed Bath and Beyond or Kohl's or Target not looked at spaces in Tewksbury? There is the huge empty storefront next to the Pushcart/auto parts store/dollar store - that site would be perfect. And now the loss of Home Goods. Seriously disappointed. Wal-Mart is really gross, despite their recent "spruce-up." The town selectmen really need to try and attract a larger, higher class retailer for these spots. Are they doing *anything* about it?

I've said it before, you're not going to get the larger businesses into Tewksbury due to the traffic issues and one lane Main St. The roads will be too congested, hence lowering the ROI for any business that moves in. The widening of 38 needs to be the next plan on the docket, unfortunately there's no money as it was misspent elsewhere.

There is a sign saying Habachi is moving into the old Rite Aid/Osco?? I hear Home Goods is moving because Demoulas jacked up the rent on them. Hopefully Demoulas has a plan to get someone else in there.

Target please!! This town needs shopping access!! Starting to look deserted!!

I also just saw a sign that says Habachi coming soon at the rite aid/osco. Any info??

I've heard rumers that there's going to be a night club or a medical marijuana dispensary where homegoods is. What is this town Turing into?!

When Wilmington repaved Rt.38 there to be less congested..low and behold wow lots of great retailers!!

I still feel a sporting good store would do well in this location (here or the Rite Aid plaza), I found out Staples closed in Wilmington. Maybe an electronic-office supply-type of place would work out in this location as well. Other stores that are not overly abundant locally are craft stores (Michaels, ACMoore) or maybe even an Old Navy or a Toys/Babies R Us would work in that area

You couldn't pay me to own a business in Tewksbury. Taxes and water are way to high. I do not like the Casewell and think it is an Eye sore But what the town is doing to the owner is wrong. I would be afriad to own any thing in this town

I would love if someone from the Patch would do an interview with someone from the town with an answer as to why businesses are not coming to Tewksbury, or maybe they are and Tewksbury is saying no?

Congestion has nothing to do with it. Rte 28 is crazy but we shop there. If there is a good enough store people will shop. Tewksbury needs to be ran like a business to attract business the town has grown over the last 30 years we need to move along with the progression and not ignore the fact that we have grown out of the small town mentality we once were.

Staples in Wilmington closed? yikes...i was just there.

Hi Bill, I was curious what kinds of business's are requesting to be in Tewksbury if at all. On the other side is there anyone reaching out to business's to join our town or entice them to be in Tewksbury?

I think 'some' of it has to do with 'who' owns the plaza and is ultimately in control of the leasing fees.

I'm thinking it could be a zoning issue..maybe some old fashion ways of doing things. But thank you Bill I always appreciate your time.

Anyone think it might be the HIGH Taxes.

Is on-line shopping resulting in a reduction of retail outlets?

No major chain store: Target, Babies R Us, Kohl's, etc., will ever fill that spot. All those stores--just like HomeGoods/Marshalls/TJ's--want to be right off the highway, high visibility, quick access. Oakdale is in the center of the town, a pain to drive up/down Rt. 38 to get to (which was all forseable and avoidable had we a reasonable growth plan years ago), and would be a losing proposition for any big name store.

HomeGoods profits were sliding steadily downhill--while the very busy little HomeGoods in Reading on Rt. 28 has always done very well--and, yet, the profits for the last year were actually 5% higher than projected. Even so, going the way they're planning to go--combo stores right off a highway in a town that has more money--is a no-brainer.

New firearms store opening on Jan 31 at former liberty tool rental site

i hope Firearms stores, tobacco shops, and pot RX cafes are in jest! I dont want to think of the future of tewksbury if that is true!

I actually was in Westford about a month ago and can see the appeal for TJX to move Home Goods there. I really wish they wouldn't of course, I do love HG's and will miss it being so close. But the new developments on Boston Rd in Westford I saw were quite impressive. It left me envious wishing Tewksbury would look like this instead of the way it's been going. In Westford though everything is barely 1/4 mile off the exit. Not so much in Tewksbury. Just like Janellen27 said. Never going to get big stores like Target and Kohl's in or around Oakdale Plaza.

Janellen27 is right. Difficult to get high volume stores to move to an area so far from the highway. That was the reason that Staples believes that the Wilmington location failed - too far from the highway. Marshalls moved from the Rite-aid/Pushcart location years ago and moved closer to the highway. Not sure what would type of store could succeed at either the RiteAid or Homegoods locations. Certainly no one that needs high volume. As a town, we don't seem able to support it.

OH MY GAWD! A FIREARMS store?!

OK, some of the improvements I've seen since moving here 2 1/2 decades ago: Big Lots, Dollar Tree, Family Dollar, 2 Tobacco Stores, about 6--or more--Car Dealers, several Italian restaurants that have gone out of business, one average decent Fish restaurant went out of business, a couple dozen pizza/sub shops that don't, a half-dozen Asian Take-out stores (three staring each other in the face), 8 Duncan Donuts, half-dozen-plus nail salons, a couple dozen hair salons, a few motel/hotel establishments, Wal-Mart, Home Depot. . . .(all high theft, domestics, drugs, prostituion, etc.),

Part II, just call me "Tolstoy"!

Would it never occur to this town to have a Starbucks or Peet's? Would a Steakhouse be out of the question? I'm sure people here LOVE their steak & potatoes! It's traditionally a blue collar Irish working town. Would a Panera be too upscale for the town?

THREE bookstores failed beginning with 25 years ago, before e-books and tablets were invented. People don't read?

This is the kind of town that can only support small businesses except up at the junction, and the kind of businesses at the junction threaten the small businesses in town--like Aubuts and Tewksbury Hardware vs. Home Depot. The problem is not enough clear thinking has gone into what type of small businesses we need Now, we're talking FIREARMS? Oh, good! Here comes the undesirable part of the population of Lowell, and I'm leaving the rest to your imagination. Family Dollar and Job Lots bring people from Lowell, so does Wal-Mart and Home Depot and K-Mart. That's antiproductive, because the type of customer they bring are --- how do I say this -- well, no damn guns, please, so they can buy them and then hold us up with them, or raise the "Home Invasion w/Deadly Weapon" numbers.

Part III. Apologies, I just have to vent!

This is crazy. Who is making these decisions? People are looking down and lowering our standards rather than looking up and making an effort to raise our standards. Go down Main Street in Andover on foot, both sides, and see the difference between that town and this one. We may not need an Oriental Rug store here, but neither do we need a firearms store.

P.S.: I didn't mean Aubut's; I meant Aubuchon's Hardware. And, I made another mistake, too: TWO fish restaurants tried and failed. Maybe we should have a moratorium on restaurants and Take-Outs of any kind, and car dealers, and hair salons, and nail salons, and . . . . . ugh. I am so tired of worrying about this Titanic, first the country and then the town.

Where was Liberty Tool??

OK, I PROMISE. LAST COMMENT FOR TONIGHT.

It just occurred to me one way of almost certainly getting the kind of new businesses we need. Instead of asking "What would you like to see for new business in our town?", how 'bout the question being: "What are the reasons that you leave your town to do business in another town? What types of places do you have to go to that require you to leave Tewksbury and go find what you need in another town?"

I can think of my Health Plan, right off the bat, because I drove to Chelmsford and back tonight to pick up a couple of prescriptions. (Not suggesting Oakdale for that, by the way).

What do you go to another town for? Do you go to the Malls? What for?

I'd really like to hear some real answers from some real residents, please.

New England shooters warehouse is the name of the store.

If more people shopped regularly at Homegoods, perhaps it wouldnt have to close...period...

first - a firearms store would be shopped at by people who legally have the right to own a firearm, so you wouldn't have to worry about looking down your nose at "undesirables" Janellen. (I'm licensend to carry and just may shop there). Perhaps maybe it will attrace more law enforcement people into our cozy little town - since they probably shop in those stores as much as anyone else. People don't legally buy a gun, with a license and then hold up the bank next door with it.

Second, I had another thought for a business need - with the country club winning awards for weddings and events, perhaps a bridal store/gown/tux shop would do well in that area. Maybe a florist as well? Just a thought.

Yes...lovely

No surprise here, our town is on the wrong path! They continue to push business away, high water bills, high excise taxes and unfriendly attitudes toward the business community. Town is threatening to close Oscar Pinata Restaurant and others for unpaid water bills. This have to stop, I am thinking about running for selectman. This makes me sick! The miss management of our tax funds and the HUGE waste cannot be ignored.

Hanson Webb

Hanson: Where did your post go?

Where is the "HUGE" waste, as you see it, please? I am really interested in hearing.

We can start by reviewing the Tewksbury Big dig project, the sewer and water rates, then we can look at the lavish pension plans for town employees, then when I hear that the town hires an attorney to travel to Boston to dispute tax bills of $85.00 and pay an attorney at least $250 / Hrs! Or when we spend 1 Million on snow plowing equipment and leave it parked during snow storm and hire sub-contractors to do the work I can not help but to shake my head at the wasted resources. It is time to run our town like a business and hold our elected officials accountable.

HayleighsMom.... you're welcome. Your previous question re. Liberty Tool...I believe it's set back on Main St. past Hobart's near the Wilmington line.

Ok Thanks :)

Massachusetts, in general, is one of the worst States to do business in.
And now, mini-me, will be proposing raising the gas tax, income tax, sales tax, and raise fees on evrything he can think of. Stated at 10 Billion Dollars but expected to easily exceed 25 to 30 Billion. This fiscal stupidity will easily bring us closer to the "top"
Elections have consequences, and we are about to pay dearly.
I believe, and have believed, that it's too late to save Massachusetts. We are well on the way to fiscal ruin. The only question remaining is how bad will it get and can anyone survive the fiscal carnage when the State crumbles.

Sit quietly today and ask yourself what kind of fiscal shape Tewksbury is really in.
Sit quietly today and ask yourself what kind of fiscal shape Massachusetts is in.
Sit quietly today and ask yourself what kind of fiscal shape the US is in.

If anyone here can tell me how this will all end well I would would be interested in your well thought out and factual response.

http://247wallst.com/2012/10/23/states-where-residents-pay-the-most-in-taxes/2/

http://bostonherald.com/news_opinion/local_politics/2013/01/experts_gas_tax_hike_lesser_evils

Bowling Alley, craft store, sports equipment store, pet store, formal wear store (excellent idea from a recent post), party store perhaps...why do we leave Tewksbury to shop, you ask? To escape all the vacant, lonely storefronts and do some "one-stop shopping" elsewhere...Main Street is horrible to get errands done, especially on the weekend...driving plaza to plaza....one-stop shopping is key to us working moms...just saying...and I will truly miss "homegoods therapy"...very sad to have to travel now to Westford, however, it will allow some "one-stop shopping" for me if I make the trip!!

OMG, just got back from vacation. When we drove by Home Goods and saw the sign I thought I would have a heart attack. LOVE THAT STORE! I thought during the Christmas season that there weren't as many shoppers as other years and stock seemed low. Big loss to the town. Also, big loss that Staples in Wilmington is gone. If it makes anyone feel better, just got back from Florida and the little town that we vacationed in is having the same problem. Lots of empty store fronts. Too bad...Sign of the times, I guess.