Home Choice opens before Bed Bath & Beyond

Don’t let the lighted Bed Bath & Beyond sign fool you at 1303 Miller Trunk Highway in Duluth.

The new entry to the Duluth retail scene in the old Gander Mountain store site across from Miller Hill Mall isn’t open yet.  Should take another month.

The interior remodeling that’s been going on for months looks to be complete. But (since I’m not above peeking though the locked doors) it looks like the 22,000-square-foot space needs a good cleaning before shelving is installed and merchandise is brought in.

For those unfamiliar with Bed Bath & Beyond, it’s the largest home furnishing specialty store in the country. Wherever it sets up shop, it gives Target and Walmart a run for their money. This will be the first BB&B store in the Northland. The chain already has stores in the Twin Cities, Rochester Fargo and Grand Rapids.

Meanwhile, Home Choice has opened in the 7,300-square-foot space between BB&B and Buffalo Wild Wings in Duluth, in the little strip mall set back from the highway.

Home Choice had its grand opening Monday. But you can still get mouse pads and other freebies if you stop in.

It’s a home furnishings chain that carries name brand furniture, computers, electronics and large home appliances. Home Choice officials said they would open in mid-August, and that’s exactly what they did. Bed Bath & Beyond officials said they would open last spring and, well,  maybe they’ll open in September.

Home Choice’s  caters to credit-challenged customers by offering in-house  payment plans.

“We see it as a new way of doing business, ” said store manager John Ries (who recently moved to Duluth from LaCrosse and seems smitten with Duluth).  “It’s fantastic for people who are hard working. We can make it affordable for them and help them improve their credit.”

Of course, if you want to pay with cash, that’s OK, too.  In fact, with cash you can haggle over the price. They’re willing to bargain, Ries said.