Plans for Marshalls stsore at Corbin Trademart at a standstill

Plans for a new major retail store at the Trademart Shopping Center in Corbin are currently at a standstill, and the future looks murky as to whether they will move forward any time soon.

Demolition work for a Marshalls store was initially slated to begin this past March, but has been held up by contractual disagreements between the shopping center owners and TJX Companies, Inc. – the company that owns the retailer.

"There really ain’t much to say right now. It’s still all in limbo," said Dale Chaffin, Property Manager at the Trademart Shopping Center in Corbin. "They haven’t talked to me in three or four months."

Chaffin said Marshalls, as far as he knew, never really signed any firm contract to locate a store in Corbin. It was planned to be located where the old Corbin Movie Theater and GoldenbergÕs Furniture store now stand. That portion of the building will be demolished to make way for new construction.

In May, Corbin Building Inspector Frank Burke said core drilling at the site revealed some fill material that Marshalls wants Trademart owners Chase Properties to remove and replace before construction begins. Chase believes Marshalls should make the improvements.

When asked about the situation this week, Burke said he was no longer authorized by city leaders to make comments on the project.

Chaffin said he isn’t sure whether or not Marshalls is negotiating directly with Chase Properties on the issue, but characterized the situation as idle, "not going either forward or backward."

He said, as far as he knew, the company had not signed any contracts or agreements regarding the construction of a store in Corbin.

When asked about the situation this week, Corbin Mayor Willard McBurney said he did not know the fate of the store and therefore couldn’t comment.

Marshalls opened its first store more than 40 years ago, and is one of the largest off-price shopping spots in the world specializing in clothing, accessories and home merchandise. There are over 880 Marshalls stores in 42 states and Puerto Rico. It is owned by TJX Companies, Inc. which also owns the T.J. Maxx line of stores.

At first, the Corbin location was going to be a T.J. Maxx but Burke said planners have gone back and forth on which store would be located in Corbin. The two stores have very similar inventory and pricing.