Nov. 28--While Circuit City has pulled out of the Exeter Commons shopping center, 11 other businesses are on schedule to open there this summer, including a prototype Target with an expanded grocery section.

Target will join Giant Food Stores and Lowe's as anchors in the shopping complex that's taking shape on 44 acres along Perkiomen Avenue (Route 422) in Exeter Township.

Target, the fi rst store under construction, is expected to open July 26. Other stores are scheduled to open about the same time.

The Exeter store will be different from Berks County's two other Target stores in Spring and Muhlenberg townships, said company spokeswoman Bridget K. Hammond.

The grocery area will be 40 percent larger and will include fresh produce, meat and baked goods.

"This expanded grocery prototype is a great way to respond to what our guests want, Hammond said. "They want more fresh-food selection."

Circuit City had signed a lease to open in the shopping center, but developers decided to terminate the lease about the time the company filed for bankruptcy a few weeks ago, said Jeremy B. Fogel, president of Ironwood Property Group Inc.

Ironwood and The Goldenberg Group, both of Montgomery County, are partners in Exeter JV Associates, the project developer.

Other companies have expressed interest in the space that was reserved for Circuit City, but nothing has been finalized, Fogel said.

Other retailers to occupy the center will be Sleepy's, Petco, Staples and Famous Footwear.

Three restaurants, Red Robin, Five Guys Burgers and Fries and Chick-fil-A, are planned, and a Wachovia bank is proposed.

While construction at the shopping center has hit a few snags, including problems with rock, the work is on schedule, Fogel said.

So far, underground utilities have been installed, roads have been widened and some of the paving is fi nished.

Weather in the coming weeks likely will slow the work.

"We're not projecting a lot of work to happen over the winter," Fogel said.

Contact reporter Erin Negley at 610-371-5047 or enegley@readingeagle.com.

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