Part of Wilmot Plaza demolished for new tenants

Crews began tearing down the south end of the Wilmot Plaza shopping center last week. It was once home to R&S Mattress, Christies Appliance and Brawleys Restaurant.

The property is being demolished to make way for a 14,000-square-foot building that will house up to four retail tenants, said Alan Tanner, retail principal with plaza owner Bourn Cos.

We werent sure if we were going to remodel the premises or take it, raze it and reconstruct it, Tanner said. In the long run, it made more sense to demo the building and rebuild.

Bourn Cos. acquired Wilmot Plaza, on the northeast corner of Wilmot Road and East Broadway, in 2013 with plans to redevelop the 10-acre property with more than 140,000 square feet of retail space.

In June of 2014, crews began tearing down the northern half of the center, including the old Popular Outdoor Outfitters.

In November, Bourn announced that Dicks Sporting Goods would serve as the plaza anchor with a brand-new 50,000-square-foot facility.

Tanner said construction is already underway on the future Dicks. The goal is to hand it over to the Pennsylvania-based chain in August.

The three remaining plaza businesses, T.J. Maxx, Burger King and Good Ole Toms, will remain open during construction.

Tanner said T.J. Maxx is in the process of receiving a new exterior storefront.

Burger Kings current building will be torn down, but not before a new BK is constructed just north of the old location, on the southwest corner of the plaza.

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Part of Wilmot Plaza demolished for new tenants