HomeGoods, the popular home furnishings retailer, is poised to expand its footprint in Kansas with a new store in Topeka’s bustling Wanamaker Square. The chain received a city permit on August 10, allowing for interior alterations at the former Bed, Bath & Beyond site located at 1900 S.W. Wanamaker Road, signaling the arrival of a fresh shopping destination for local residents.
The permit, issued by the City of Topeka, authorizes significant renovations at the Wanamaker Square location. Innovative Construction Solutions, a Wisconsin-based retail construction firm, has been contracted to oversee the project. Despite multiple requests for comment, the construction company has yet to respond to inquiries about the timeline and scope of the renovation.
While HomeGoods has not officially announced the opening of a new store in Topeka, the permit issuance strongly suggests that the brand is preparing to establish a presence in the city. This move comes as part of the broader trend of retailers capitalizing on prime locations previously occupied by well-known brands. The former Bed, Bath & Beyond site, situated along the vibrant Wanamaker corridor, offers a strategic location for HomeGoods to tap into the local market.
In December 2023, reports surfaced indicating that HomeGoods was eyeing the Topeka site, a development that was reportedly shared with the city’s mayor and council members. The Wanamaker corridor, known for its mix of retail stores and restaurants, has long been a hub of commercial activity in Topeka, making it an attractive spot for new businesses looking to draw in shoppers.
In a related development, a proposal to maintain the current sales tax rate within the shopping center remains under consideration. The proposal, which revises an agreement approved by the Topeka City Council in 2019, aims to sustain a 1% sales tax increase at multiple retail properties in the area. The Community Improvement District (CID) agreement, spearheaded by Equity Investment Group Wanamaker LLC, a Fort Wayne, Indiana-based firm, was designed to fund enhancements within the district, supporting the continued growth and revitalization of the Wanamaker corridor.
The CID agreement, which permits the additional sales tax to be charged at designated properties from January 1, 2020, through January 31, 2041, was initially approved by the Topeka governing body on December 19, 2019. The move to extend the tax cap reflects the increasing sales tax revenues in recent years, which have outpaced expectations.
“It just raises the cap on their ability to capture that sales tax, which has gone up dramatically in the last two years,” said Bob Johnson, an attorney with the Kansas City-based Polsinelli law firm. “As they pointed out, that’s also more sales tax for the city of Topeka.”
HomeGoods currently operates five locations across Kansas, with stores in Lawrence, Kansas City, Overland Park, and Wichita. The addition of a Topeka store would further solidify the brand’s presence in the state, offering residents a new option for stylish and affordable home furnishings.
As the city awaits official confirmation from HomeGoods, the issuance of the permit marks a significant step toward the transformation of the former Bed, Bath & Beyond site into a new retail destination. Topeka residents and visitors alike can look forward to the potential arrival of HomeGoods, bringing with it the promise of fresh décor and home essentials.
