If you’ve been following the City of Laramie and the City Council, you know that the City of Laramie Community and Economic Development Department has been focused on bringing new development into Laramie, specifically in the old K-Mart building and strip mall on Third Street. Since its closure in 2018, K-Mart and the string of empty storefronts have had several prospective businesses interested in the space, yet none have sealed the deal. The City Council approved the new development of the K-Mart building and attached strip mall when they signed the Development and Economic Incentive Agreement in December of 2022.

With home goods and clothing markets remaining as one of the biggest consumer needs in Laramie, the City Council approved the agreement for new development for Ross, HomeBase, and Ulta Beauty in the vacant 87,000-square-foot space. These new storefronts present several benefits to the City and its residents, including bringing job opportunities, tax revenue, and hopefully an incentive for more businesses to move in and call Laramie home.

The City of Laramie anticipates the new storefronts will satisfy the shopping needs of residents as well as students and visitors. The Laramie City Council also expects the new development to improve the aesthetic and overall value of the Third Street corridor, as well as keep revenue dollars in Laramie rather than residents spending their income online or seeking retail refuge in other communities.

“We are excited to partner on this new development and improve our residents’ shopping experience and overall quality of life in Laramie,” says Community and Economic Development Director, Derek Teini. “We want to ensure that Laramie has the shopping resources to fulfill the needs of our community, whether it be clothing, beauty, home goods, or all of the above.”

The City of Laramie recognizes that a major contributor to this new development is community input as well as attendance at and involvement in City Council meetings. City Council meetings are open to the public and have a reserved time slot for public comment on topics that impact our community, like the development of this shopping area. The City encourages residents to stay informed on City matters and attend these meetings to share meaningful input and participate in the further development of the community.