Posted on: Friday, June 3, 2005

Retailer to open 3rd O'ahu store

By Dan Nakaso
Advertiser Staff Writer

Fort Worth, Texas-based Pier 1 Imports plans to open a third O'ahu store at the site of the former Longs Drugs store in Kailua early next year, Kaneohe Ranch announced yesterday.

The 10,000 square-foot Pier 1 will be the smallest on O'ahu and will share the site of the old Longs store with two other potential, unnamed tenants, said Mitch D'Olier, president and chief executive officer of Kaneohe Ranch.

Demolition on the Longs store began yesterday. Pier 1 could open for business in the first quarter of 2006, D'Olier said.

Pier 1, a specialty retailer of imported home furnishings and gifts, has 1,200 locations nationwide.

Wally Amos' new cookie venture, Chip & Cookie, will join Pier 1 and other new businesses as part of a plaza along Kailua Road that will feature landscaping and outdoor seating, D'Olier said.

The plaza will lead to a pedestrian walkway heading mauka to Hekili Street, D'Olier said.

The idea was the result of community discussions in which residents said Kailua has "too many fences and not enough ways to walk to different locations," D'Olier said.

The plaza "could be a gathering place," D'Olier said. "Pick up your food somewhere and come hang out."

But plans are still uncertain for the Pali Lanes bowling alley on Hekili Street, which is adjacent to a new three-story garage.

"It's still way too soon to tell," D'Olier said.

Reach Dan Nakaso at dnakaso@honoluluadvertiser.com or at 525-8085.