With the closing of And That and Buy Buy Baby in Central Park a few months ago, a large retail space became available for new stores in Central Park. Academy Sports + Outdoors has started renovating both spaces to create an approximately 80,000 square foot retail space for all things sports. Located at 1320 Carl D. Silver Parkway near Target, Academy Sports + Outdoors offers clothing, shoes, gear for any sport, and outdoor camping equipment. With renovations well under way, I anticipate that the store in Central Park should open later this summer.

After you’ve done your shopping or need a break from all the stores in Central Park, you can plan on heading over to Raising Cane’s for lunch. Located at the spot of the former Pier One store, which is being demolished, Raising Cane’s will open an 4,000 square foot restaurant. Work is already underway at 3071 Carl D. Silver Parkway. Serving their signature chicken fingers in a variety of combinations, the restaurant should be a draw for shoppers entering Central Park from Route Three.

Also in the works for new stores in Central Park are a Silver Dine and Chase Bank. Plans for the two buildings, located on the space formerly occupied by Ruby Tuesday and Pancho Villa restaurants, are currently in the approval phase with the Fredericksburg City Council. The plans for these stores in Central Park include demolishing the current buildings and adding parking spaces.

If you are looking for a new place to wash your car after a trip on 95, then be on the lookout for the Goodwash Express car wash which is going to be built at the former Bob Evans restaurant location at 2305 Plank Road in Fredericksburg.

The next time your head out from your home in Locust Grove to Central Park, don’t forget about the new T J Maxx that recently opened too!