By Jennifer Edwards
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Construction continues Tuesday on the Target store at Voice of America Centre in West Chester Township. (Michael Snyder photo) | ZOOM |

WEST CHESTER TWP - A mall war among developers battling for the same retailers in the same market is winding down, with two major shopping centers filling in their tenant rosters.

The developer of a shopping plaza under construction at Cox and Tylersville roads and anchored by retail behemoth Target announced 10 additional tenants this week.

"I am very pleased we are getting such a nice blend of good businesses coming into the township," Trustee Catherine Stoker said. "We appear to have resolved some of the conflict between the different developments, and they seem to be establishing their own niche in the retail world of West Chester."

Linens 'n Things, Pier 1 Imports, Michaels Arts and Crafts, Famous Footwear, The Dress Barn, Pet Supplies "Plus," EB Games, MaggieMoos Ice Cream, Chipotle Mexican Grill and Panera Bread will open in Voice of America Centre by October, said John Silverman of Midland Atlantic Properties in Kenwood.

Construction will begin on three other buildings on out-lots at the 75-acre parcel as soon as the weather warms, he added. Those tenants are a Ruby Tuesdays restaurant, United Dairy Farmers, and a Peoples Community Bank that also will serve as new headquarters for the Southeastern Butler County Chamber of Commerce and a new Butler County workforce academy.

The 528,000-square-foot shopping plaza will open with Target in July. To prepare for extra vehicles, the Butler County Engineer's Office is overseeing a project that has widened Cox Road to five lanes, including an additional turn lane on the north side of the Cox/Tylersville intersection.

The road widening along Cox wrapped up late last year, and the rest of the improvements should be complete by this summer.

The shopping center is one of two major retail projects under way in booming West Chester Township.

On the southeast corner of Interstate 75 and Union Centre Boulevard, a "lifestyle center" called Streets of West Chester is expected to open in May.

Dallas-based Rave Theaters will kick off the $100 million development with an 18-screen, 82,000-square-foot theater that will have 4,100 seats.

Overall, the 400,000-square-foot development will feature shops, restaurants and entertainment venues. The project also eventually will hold offices and 400 apartments.

The other two contenders in West Chester's mall war have stalled - one lacking tenants and the other because its developer yanked the project last fall as the township was poised to reject it for a second time.

E-mail jedwards@enquirer.com.