Not to be outdone by other local retailers, Greenwood Mall plans to build its own strip retail center. A 9,000-square-foot center will be built on the Cave Mill Road side of the mall in a vacant lot next to Dollar General. General Growth Properties, the malls parent company, owns the land. Were courting tenants right now for that, said Jim Maroney, director of commercial real estate for Sims Realty and a consultant for General Growth Properties. Signs have gone up indicating the future development of the grassy tract of land, which will be part of a cluster of banks and small retail stores that make up the malls outer parcels. Adding a small center allows the mall to take advantage of the planned expansion of Cave Mill Road while not clogging up the front of the mall, said Heidi Olson, Greenwood general manager. The decision to expand the Bowling Green site with a retail center not connected to the mall fits with General Growth Properties recent activity across the nation. The company, which owns or manages 163 malls in 41 states, is diversifying its developments, as indicated by the purchase July 10 of JP Realty, a retail property development and management company in the Midwest and West. The acquisition gives General Growth Properties a company that owns 26 shopping centers, 1.3 million square feet of industrial properties and 18 malls. Maroney, who is securing clients for the former Wal-Mart building on the west side of the mall, said construction would not begin until there was a commitment from tenants for 50 percent of the space. He also is working with developer Jack Scheidler of Greenwood Properties to fill the new Redwood Square on Scottsville Road. The center, which sits in front of Greenwood Square, already houses SunSuites Salon and Spa, Quiznos Subs and Royal Thai. Were looking for small retail operations like those, Maroney said. Were going to cater to businesses that you would see in these successful outlet areas. A public-private partnership was formed to provide funding for the expansion of Cave Mill Road from two to three lanes near the malls back entrance and will include a two-way left turn lane. Its going to be similar to Campbell Lane, which has a two-way left turn lane, said city engineer Jeff Lashlee. The road will be expanded past Grider Pond Road and will get funding from several sources including the mall, which will benefit from a major intersection into the large vacant tract that they have behind the mini-storage facility on the Cave Mill Road side of the mall, Lashlee said. At some time, a signal could be placed at that intersection, which would get traffic in and out of the mall easier. The expansion project is the result of a state study that looked at traffic capacity now and in 2020. While the study determined traffic is heavy right now, 20 years out its going to be really bad, Lashlee said. So, were trying to solve todays problem, but also do what we can to keep the road functioning in the future. In addition to the strip center, Olson is courting tenants to expand the mall. A proposal has been sent to a potential retailer for a 7,000-square-foot space that would be near the new carousel and expanded food court that opened in November. Another 16,000-square-feet of space also will be available on the west side of the carousel, she said. Current vacancies are being filled. Aeropostale, a teen clothing shop, is remodeling the former Disney store and plans to open in October. Its somewhere between a Gap and American Eagle and (is) one of the nations hottest retailers, Olson said. Other changes include the recent opening of Wandas Jewelers in the vacancy created when Goldsmith Jewelry Repair and Design moved to the new Redwood Square. Bowling Greens first Foot Locker also plans an October opening in the malls former Pacific Sunwear location. Taco King recently opened in the food court next to the final vacancy, which filled by Thunderbird Express chicken vendor. Proposals have been offered for the vacant sit-down restaurant, formerly Garfields, Olson said.