There’s a surprising new tenant for the former Two Olives space at Comotara

There’s a rather surprising new tenant for the 13,000-square-foot former Two Olives space at Comotara, the shopping center at 29th and Rock Road.

Before you get excited, no, it’s not the Cheesecake Factory.

It’s a Dollar Tree.

Though there’s already a mix of tenants at the center — everything from the First Place and Mike Seltzer Jewelers to Asian Wok and Five Guys Burgers and Fries — it’s still a bit of a surprise to see a discount retailer at what’s traditionally been a more upscale center.

A Dollar Tree representative confirmed the store will locate at 2949 N. Rock Road, which is the former Two Olives space, and will open in early 2022.

No one with Bow River Capital, the Denver-based owner of the center, returned calls for comment.

Several Comotara tenants were willing to talk, though, each with the caveat that they don’t want to be rude toward Dollar Tree or its customers.

“I’m sure they’re nice people, but I was very surprised,” said Helen Galloway, owner of the long-established First Place.

Galloway said she is shocked Dollar Tree would come to Comotara and also “so surprised because I see so many of them in Wichita. They seem to be right around every corner.”

Beau Monde Spa & Boutique owner Michele Wheeler said she understands the landlord — who has not confirmed to tenants that Dollar Tree is coming — needs to get a national tenant with a long lease. However, she would have preferred a locally owned one, she said.

“Needless to say, I’m disappointed,” Wheeler said.

“I would have much preferred a local tenant that could have driven the same kind of traffic we already have in here. . . . I think that all of the retailers in here would like a higher-end tenant.”

Gwen Ottenberg at Imagine That Toys is a little more direct.

“I know for me personally that I haven’t worked for the last 15 years of my life building a business in a plaza . . . to have a national chain beside me,” she said. “I hope that our landlord would be smart enough not to try to put a Dollar Tree in this plaza.”

She said she has a call into the landlord but hasn’t heard back.

“I am grateful that I haven’t heard it officially yet, so to me that means it hasn’t happened.”

Ottenberg said Dollar Tree feels like a more transactional kind of business while a lot of the businesses at Comotara are the types that build personal relationships with customers over the years. She said they’re also businesses that complement each other.

“There’s a lot of strong women in this plaza,” Ottenberg said of business owners and shoppers.

She said customers might get a massage at Beau Monde and then stop in for something sparkly at the First Place or Mike Seltzer Jewelers and then pop over to her store to buy a toy to treat their children.

“I’m not sure a store like (Dollar Tree) makes sense in this plaza.”

Though Galloway hasn’t heard anything official yet either, she is resigned to Dollar Tree coming.

“I hope they make it beautiful, she said. “I will try to be a gracious neighbor, and we can all try to help each other.”

Galloway paused briefly.

“Am I lying a little? Probably.”

Still, Galloway said she has to be all right with it.

“Honey, at this point — at 90 — I can hardly afford to get nervous over something like this.”

This story was originally published October 13, 2021 at 11:26 AM.