Sep. 19--The Kohl's Department Store in Opelika will open its doors well before the Christmas shopping season.

The company, based in Menomonee Falls, Wis., announced this week that the grand opening of the 68,500-square foot store in TigerTown will be Oct. 1.

"We are all excited about another jewel in the crown of TigerTown," said Al Cook, Opelika's economic development director.

The store, located at 2774 Enterprise Drive, is one of two to open this fall in Alabama, bringing the state total to nine. Kohl's will celebrate the opening of its 1,000th store and 47th environmentally-friendly store this fall.

Opelika is one of the stores to receive LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) pre-certification at the Silver level from the U.S. Green Building Council. According to Kohl's, the store's "green" attributes include recycled and locally obtained building materials; high-efficiency heating and cooling systems; occupancy sensor lighting for stockrooms, break rooms and offices; water-conserving plumbing fixtures and a recycling program for cardboard boxes, hangers and packaging.

TigerTown began development in 2003, and is home to a number of stores and restaurants. TigerTown developers Newton Oldacre McDonald, LLC said this is Kohl's first store in the Opelika-Auburn market.

Cook said Kohl's will add about 130 new jobs to the area, and is bound to attract more consumers to East Alabama.

Construction is ongoing for the first Bed, Bath & Beyond store in Lee County, located between Dick's Sporting Goods and Kohl's in TigerTown. Cook said he hasn't heard a date for when the superstore is slated to open its doors, but it should be before Christmas.

| 737-2534

-----

To see more of the Opelika-Auburn News or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.oanow.com.

Copyright (c) 2008, Opelika-Auburn News, Ala.

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.

NYSE:KSS, NASDAQ-NMS:BBBY, NYSE:DKS,