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The Smithville Commons developer indicated last week that much time could pass before the retail center lands an anchor tenant.

During a Smithville Economic Development Committee meeting Sept. 22, developer J.D. Nelson gave the committee an update on the project. He stressed that securing financing is tough right now for potential retailers and that waiting these tough economic times out could be necessary.

His outlook was less optimistic than it had been in recent months.

Nelson has said he’s in negotiations with a big box retail store. The store has put money down and signed a contract, he said.

However, that in no way means the store will open in the Commons soon, he said. It simply means they’d like to come, he said, but practically everything revolves around securing financing.

“Financing is just worse than people want to believe,” he said.

He doesn’t think the economic picture will turn around soon. Many stores, including his potential tenant, have recently cut back the number of new stores they plan to open, he said.

“Right now, it’s like we’re pushing a Mack truck up a hill,” Nelson said. “As much as we’d like to do something, we’ll probably be better off if we just wait.”

Last month, Block & Co. Realtors — the company Nelson hired to sell spots at the Commons — put a listing on its Web site telling retailers to “join Lowe’s” at the site. In addition, Block’s listing on CoStar, a widely used commercial real estate site, also said Lowe’s was coming and included a map showing Lowe’s at the site.

Nelson said that considering no retailer has committed to the Commons, the listing information was false. His business partner expressed his displeasure to Block’s staff, he said.

Nelson won’t name potential tenants because the companies don’t want their competition to know where they’re looking.

During the committee meeting, committee chair Brian Fullmer referred to the Block listing news as “disappointing.”

About a couple of weeks ago, Block removed “join Lowe’s” from the listing on its Web site and instead stated a “major retailer” had committed. The CoStar listing hasn’t changed.

Fullmer said Smithville residents were anxious for something to open at the Commons.

“People don’t want to drive to Barry Road to do their shopping,” Fullmer said.

Nelson said he’s confident the Commons will fill up when the time is right. For now, he’s concentrating on the first key to making that happen.

“We can’t do anything unless we get an anchor,” he said.

Smithville Editor Nancy Hull Rigdon can be reached at 532-4444 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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