Carter’s, OshKosh B’gosh shops to open in Richland

Well-known children clothing retailers Carter’s and OshKosh B’gosh will be opening in Richland this summer.

Construction is just beginning on the 6,000-square-foot building that will be home to both stores in Vintner Square in Richland’s Queensgate area.

The $813,000 building will be divided into two stores, although Carter’s owns both brands. It’s being built next to Target at 2947 Queensgate Drive.

Also expected to open this summer are restaurants Hop Jack’s and Qdoba Mexican Grill.

The eateries will be in a 7,500-square-foot building next to Chase Bank and across from Five Guys Burgers and Fries, said Scott Bohrer, Browman Development Co. leasing manager. The Walnut Creek, Calif., company is developing Vintner Square.

Hop Jack’s is a regional, Washington state chain, known for its neighborhood pub-style food and local craft beer on tap, he said. It’s under construction now, while Qdoba Mexican Grill is in the permitting stage. Qdoba Mexican Grill is known for its made-to-order burritos.

And Bohrer said they hope to have committed businesses for the remaining space in the shopping center by the end of this year. There has been a lot of interest, and existing tenants like Target and the new Marshalls department store are performing well, he said.

Construction on Carter’s and OshKosh B’gosh is expected to finish in June, with the stores opening late summer, Bohrer said. A large opening in the wall between the two to allow customers to move back and forth while still keeping the feeling of dual brands.

Carter’s carries clothing for newborns to size 7 kids, while OshKosh B’gosh offers clothing for newborns to size 12 kids. OshKosh B’gosh is known for its play clothes, especially overalls.

Carter’s has been opening new Carter’s and OshKosh B’gosh stores in the U.S. during the past year. A new Carter’s store is expected to open soon at Union Gap’s Valley Mall.

Washington has about 16 Carter’s and OshKosh B’gosh retail stores, but the only Eastern Washington store is a Carter’s in Spokane. The Richland store will be the first OshKosh B’gosh in Eastern Washington.

There were about 525 Carter’s retail stores in the U.S. this fall, up by about 70 locations. There were about 195 OshKosh B’gosh stores, up by 20, according to Carter’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Carter’s retail sales were $281.5 million during third quarter 2014, up by 12 percent compared with the same months in 2013. OshKosh B’gosh retail sales also were up about 12 percent in the third quarter 2014, reaching about $91.4 million, according to the filings.

In both cases, Carter’s management team attributed sales gains to the opening of new stores and growing online sales.

This story was originally published January 21, 2015 at 5:37 PM with the headline "Carter’s, OshKosh B’gosh shops to open in Richland."