HomeGoods to open at Ala Moana Center

The owner of discount store T.J. Maxx is bringing another off-price retailer to Hawaii.

HomeGoods will open at Ala Moana Center in the former Foodland Super Market Ltd. space on the street level in the first half of 2019, a mall spokeswoman said. The TJX Cos. Inc. filed a $1.5 million building permit with the City and County of Honolulu a week ago to renovate the space in the Ewa wing.

Foodland was one of Ala Moana Center’s original tenants in August 1959 and closed its store at the mall in 2014 after 55 years, citing higher rents. It was first located in the area that is now the center’s food court, before moving to a spot near the post office and the former Sears in June 1986. A Foodland Farms opened beneath the new Nordstrom in 2016 as part of the center’s Ewa expansion.

HomeGoods, which sells furniture and home decor at 20 percent to 60 percent below department store prices, is also moving to Kapolei Commons in March. It is eyeing another location at the former Kmart site in Waikele Center, though no leases have been signed, according to a center employee.

Discount retailers including Ross Stores Inc. and T.J. Maxx have flooded the market in recent years as demand for bargain shopping increases in the islands.

“That’s the merchandise that appeals to the consumer here in Hawaii,” said Mike Hamasu, director of consulting and research at Colliers International. “Cost of living is high and as a result it just appeals to those that are seeking value for their money. There’s a significant increase in competition between T.J. Maxx and Ross, but it’s an indication that this market is attractive to those retailers. They wouldn’t be opening unless there was demand for their product.”