Statesboro will soon welcome a national home furnishings retailer to the former Kmart building on Northside Drive, marking a significant milestone in the city’s targeted economic development strategy. While the identity of the retailer cannot yet be revealed, city officials are celebrating this development as a transformative step for the community.
This project highlights the success of a forward-thinking partnership launched in January 2023, when the City of Statesboro contracted a small business recruitment service through Georgia Southern University’s Business Innovation Group. Through this collaboration, Statesboro gained a dedicated small business recruiter, Alan Gross, who has been actively attending trade shows and working to attract small to medium-sized businesses to the area.
Gross, who has been instrumental in bringing this new retailer to Statesboro, expressed his enthusiasm for the impact it will have on the city.
“This is a prime example of the growth we envisioned when we began our recruitment efforts,” said Gross. “Statesboro is growing rapidly, and attracting a nationally renowned business like this is a direct result of the city’s proactive approach. This new retailer will not only revitalize the former Kmart site but also provide meaningful economic benefits, including jobs and a wider range of choices for local shoppers.”
The city’s growth has been remarkable in recent years. In 2024 alone, over 190 new business licenses were issued, and as of February 2024, commercial development projects in Statesboro totaled more than $128 million in investments—a figure that continues to climb with new developments breaking ground each month.
Statesboro Mayor Jonathan McCollar emphasized the broader significance of this announcement.
“Our city is growing by leaps and bounds every day,” said Mayor McCollar. “This retailer’s decision to invest in Statesboro is a testament to the hard work of our team and the undeniable potential of our community. It’s about more than filling a vacant building; it’s about showing investors and developers that Statesboro is a thriving, vibrant city with a bright future.”
Details about the retailer and project timeline will be announced in the coming months.
