One of three projects to open soon at Legends is TJ Maxx, right next door to Target on the north end of the property.
The store will hire about 100 employees and is expected to open at the end of October.
"They're killing the market, right now," Legends General Manager Dennis McGovern said. "Not this market, but nationally. They're doing incredibly strong numbers."
A new Taco Bell should also open up next month, on the east end of Legends.
Right next to Best Buy, work is being done to build the first Old Navy outlet store in Northern Nevada.
It will be up and running in January.
"One of the things that we've seen is that retailers are more optimistic about 2013, themselves," McGovern said. "So, we think our chances of getting some additional new retailers right after holiday will be strong."
Vacant space is also being filled by stores like Toys R Us Express and Rue 21, a clothing store for teens.
Executives are also talking with restaurants that could fill the space once occupied by Cadillac Ranch and Rack and Pinz.
Expansion hasn't been easy though.
Red Development refinanced its $141 million construction loan, and that allowed $30 million of new construction to begin.
"In 2009, when things went south in the economy around here, what happened to us wasn't much different than what happened to a lot of homeowners, in the area," McGovern said. "Maybe on a larger scale, for sure."
The master plan for Legends also includes an IMAX Theater.
Since the theater is changing locations, it needs to get approved by the Sparks Planning Commission.
If all goes as planned, ground-breaking for the theater will be early next year, followed by a grand opening next fall.
"We always wanted to be something fun and exciting, located on the Marina, something for everybody in the family, and that's starting to happen," McGovern said.
The timing of some of these stores could come just in time -- with Christmas just 99 days away.
A Wal-Mart and casino are still in the works but there is no time table for when those projects could happen.
Written by Paul Nelson
