Asbury Plaza
Encyclopedia
Asbury Plaza is a major shopping "power center" in Dubuque, Iowa
. The complex is relatively new, having opened most of its 40 stores
and restaurants only within the last 2–5 years. It is located at 4800 Asbury Road, near one of the busiest intersections
in Dubuque, the corner of Asbury Road and the Northwest Arterial (Iowa Highway 32). Construction is still ongoing at Asbury Plaza, with more stores and restaurants set to join the nearly 900000 square feet (83,612.7 m²) of stores already operating. The shopping center, currently the 8th-largest in Iowa
, is being developed by the Rubloff Development Group of Rockford, Illinois
. Current anchor store
s of the plaza include Hy-Vee
, Kohl's
, Michaels
and Star Cinemas
.
was the first major tenant in the center, opening in 2000, and sitting alone for several years before it was joined by other stores.
Most of the center's buildings were built between 2002-2005. Only a few vacant spots remain in the development, however, Rubloff has already announced that construction will soon commence on a new major anchor building (100,000+ sq. ft) between Kohl's
and Star Cinema
.
. Both areas have witnessed increased levels of new home construction, and development of commercial businesses, with most of the latter occurring in Dubuque proper. Notably, new businesses have opened to the plaza's south, along Holliday Drive, and more recently, to the east, along Asbury Road. An example of this growth is the opening of Sam's Club
's new 135000 sq ft (12,541.9 m²). store in January 2007.
Also, an upcoming phase of the development will be the opening of the 75 acres (303,514.5 m²) Asbury Plaza Business Park
to the north of the shopping center. Much of the area was recently annexed to the City of Dubuque, and will be accessible from Plaza Drive along the Northwest Arterial. Eventually, Plaza Drive will be extended to Derby Grange Road, providing another access to the development.
Dubuque, Iowa
Dubuque is a city in and the county seat of Dubuque County, Iowa, United States, located along the Mississippi River. In 2010 its population was 57,637, making it the ninth-largest city in the state and the county's population was 93,653....
. The complex is relatively new, having opened most of its 40 stores
Retailing
Retail consists of the sale of physical goods or merchandise from a fixed location, such as a department store, boutique or kiosk, or by mail, in small or individual lots for direct consumption by the purchaser. Retailing may include subordinated services, such as delivery. Purchasers may be...
and restaurants only within the last 2–5 years. It is located at 4800 Asbury Road, near one of the busiest intersections
Intersection (road)
An intersection is a road junction where two or more roads either meet or cross at grade . An intersection may be 3-way - a T junction or fork, 4-way - a crossroads, or 5-way or more...
in Dubuque, the corner of Asbury Road and the Northwest Arterial (Iowa Highway 32). Construction is still ongoing at Asbury Plaza, with more stores and restaurants set to join the nearly 900000 square feet (83,612.7 m²) of stores already operating. The shopping center, currently the 8th-largest in Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
, is being developed by the Rubloff Development Group of Rockford, Illinois
Rockford, Illinois
Rockford is a mid-sized city located on both banks of the Rock River in far northern Illinois. Often referred to as "The Forest City", Rockford is the county seat of Winnebago County, Illinois, USA. As reported in the 2010 U.S. census, the city was home to 152,871 people, the third most populated...
. Current anchor store
Anchor store
In retail, an anchor store, draw tenant, anchor tenant, or key tenant is one of the larger stores in a shopping mall, usually a department store or a major retail chain....
s of the plaza include Hy-Vee
Hy-Vee
Hy-Vee is an employee-owned chain of supermarkets located in the Midwestern United States. Over 100 of its supermarkets are located in Iowa, with additional stores in Illinois, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota and now Madison, Wisconsin...
, Kohl's
Kohl's
Kohl's Corporation is an American department store chain headquartered in the Milwaukee suburb of Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, operating , 1,089 stores in 49 states. In 1998, it entered the S&P 500 list, and is also listed in the Fortune 500...
, Michaels
Michaels
Michaels is an arts and crafts retail chain. It currently operates more than 1040 Michaels Arts and Crafts Stores located in 49 U.S. states and in Canada. The company owns and operates the Aaron Brothers retail chain which consists of more than 140 stores...
and Star Cinemas
Star Cinema (theater)
Star Cinema is a movie theater chain owned by AGT Enterprises, Inc., of Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, with nine locations in the states of Iowa and Wisconsin in the United States of America. Altogether, the chain's nine locations include 95 total movie screens, including Wisconsin's only IMAX...
.
History
The development of Asbury Plaza was highly anticipated for many years in Dubuque, as the land the center sits on changed hands and faced several delays before construction began. The opening of the plaza signalled a resurrection of the Dubuque retail market, after suffering years of lost business to surrounding cities. Hy-VeeHy-Vee
Hy-Vee is an employee-owned chain of supermarkets located in the Midwestern United States. Over 100 of its supermarkets are located in Iowa, with additional stores in Illinois, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota and now Madison, Wisconsin...
was the first major tenant in the center, opening in 2000, and sitting alone for several years before it was joined by other stores.
Most of the center's buildings were built between 2002-2005. Only a few vacant spots remain in the development, however, Rubloff has already announced that construction will soon commence on a new major anchor building (100,000+ sq. ft) between Kohl's
Kohl's
Kohl's Corporation is an American department store chain headquartered in the Milwaukee suburb of Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, operating , 1,089 stores in 49 states. In 1998, it entered the S&P 500 list, and is also listed in the Fortune 500...
and Star Cinema
Star Cinema (theater)
Star Cinema is a movie theater chain owned by AGT Enterprises, Inc., of Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, with nine locations in the states of Iowa and Wisconsin in the United States of America. Altogether, the chain's nine locations include 95 total movie screens, including Wisconsin's only IMAX...
.
Impact
Asbury Plaza has also had a significant impact on the growth of Dubuque's Northwest Side, and that of adjacent Asbury, IowaAsbury, Iowa
Asbury is a city in Dubuque County, Iowa, United States, and a suburb of the city of Dubuque. It is part of the Dubuque, Iowa Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 2,450 at the 2000 census, but is now 4,170. Asbury is the second-largest city in Dubuque County, surpassing Dyersville,...
. Both areas have witnessed increased levels of new home construction, and development of commercial businesses, with most of the latter occurring in Dubuque proper. Notably, new businesses have opened to the plaza's south, along Holliday Drive, and more recently, to the east, along Asbury Road. An example of this growth is the opening of Sam's Club
Sam's Club
Sam's Club is a chain of membership-only retail warehouse clubs owned and operated by Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., founded in 1983 and named after Wal-Mart founder Sam Walton. , the Sam's Club chain serves more than 47 million U.S. members...
's new 135000 sq ft (12,541.9 m²). store in January 2007.
Also, an upcoming phase of the development will be the opening of the 75 acres (303,514.5 m²) Asbury Plaza Business Park
Business park
A business park or office park is an area of land in which many office buildings are grouped together. All of the work that goes on is commercial, not industrial or residential....
to the north of the shopping center. Much of the area was recently annexed to the City of Dubuque, and will be accessible from Plaza Drive along the Northwest Arterial. Eventually, Plaza Drive will be extended to Derby Grange Road, providing another access to the development.