Burlington continues downsizing its space at Regency Plaza in Arlington, where the discount retailer will end up at a third of its original size as part of what appears to be the company’s strategy to compete with other sellers of clothing and home goods.
That creates space for two more stores, and one will be AutoZone.
Burlington, the national off-price retailer of apparel, decor and other merchandise, has long leased about 80,500 square feet of space at 9824 Atlantic Blvd. in the shopping center at southeast Atlantic Boulevard and Live Oak Drive near Regency Square Mall.
Here’s how it is playing out.
The city already has been reviewing a permit application for a split in the large Burlington space at an estimated project cost of $200,000 to prepare 31,425 square feet of space for future build-out by AutoZone.
The city now is reviewing permits for an estimated $2.4 million project to downsize the remaining Burlington space and build-out its eventual smaller store at a cost of $1.1 million.
The latest applications include the demolition of the existing entry canopy, the addition of new canopies, an entry and an interior wall to divide the remaining 49,733-square-foot Burlington space.
Burlington would remain in 27,290 square feet, giving back 22,443 square feet for a future tenant, and splitting the utilities.
Buckeye Construction is shown as the contractor.
The build-out plans show a slightly larger Burlington space at 27,308 square feet.
Six sign permits for Burlington also are in review, including a banner that says “We’re remodeling Come take a peek.”
A permanent sign on the store would say “Burlington Deals. Brands. Wow!”
Because Burlington is remaining at the center, it intends to continue to operate throughout the construction process.
The downsizing is expected. Burlington says on burlington.com that its preferred size ranges from 18,000 to 30,000 square feet.
A brochure by CBRE Retail Specialist Lara Bahri Higgs shows the spaces in round numbers with Burlington down to 28,000 square feet, a third of its original size.
The brochure shows available square footage at 22,500 and the AutoZone store, although not identified by that name. That space is shown as a 30,000-square-foot tenant in negotiation.
No timetable was included.
The construction plans show the Regency Plaza landlord as America’s Realty LLC of Maple Heights, Ohio. The project manager is Onyx Creative of Cleveland.
Regency Plaza is anchored by OfficeMax, Chuck E. Cheese and dd’s Discounts.
Burlington Stores Inc., headquartered in New Jersey, has six area stores in Gateway Town Center, Argyle Village Shopping Center, Regency Plaza, Old St Augustine Plaza, River City Marketplace and Saint Johns.
Its newer area stores are in the 24,000- to 25,000-square-foot range.
Burlington says in an investor presentation dated May 2025 that its Burlington 2.0 goals include smaller stores.
Trade website CREDaily.com reported Jan. 31, 2025, that Burlington is cutting store sizes by nearly 80%, “opting for smaller locations that focus on offering customers a ‘treasure-hunt’ shopping experience at low prices.”
The site said that with an aggressive expansion strategy to open 400 net new stores over the next four years, Burlington is competing with larger rivals, like Ross Stores and TJX Cos., whose banners include T.J. Maxx and Marshalls.
The site says that at Burlington’s newer locations, “the days of sprawling, cluttered big-box stores are over.”
It reported that a typical new Burlington store now spans just 18,000 square feet, less than 20% the size of its old locations.
“In this revamped format, merchandise is neatly arranged, and customers can more easily navigate aisles to find bargains.”
AutoZone adding larger stores
While Burlington is downsizing, the AutoZone store could be larger than usual.
AutoZone already has a name on the monument sign at the property.
The plans for the future AutoZone show 20,225 square feet for the sales area and 11,200 square feet for storage.
With AutoZone stores typically 6,500 to 8,000 square feet, the retailer is opening Hub stores of 16,000 to 20,000 square feet and MegaHub stores of 33,000 to 35,000 square feet, according to about.autozone.com.
SupplyChainDive.com reported in March 2024 that the MegaHubs can carry up to 110,000 products and quickly replenish inventory at satellite locations in nearby markets.
Memphis, Tennessee-based AutoZone Inc., which sells auto parts and accessories and offers services, has 37 stores in Northeast Florida, including one across the street from the new site.
Property records show that location at 9805 Atlantic Blvd. is 13,640 square feet and was built in 2008 on 1.9 acres.
AutoZone has not responded to questions whether the Regency Plaza project could be a Hub or MegaHub.
The company has plans for more of each.
At about.AutoZone.com, the company says it is the leading retailer and distributor of automotive replacement parts and accessories in the Americas.
The stores carry products for cars, sport utility vehicles, vans and light duty trucks, including new and remanufactured automotive hard parts, maintenance items, accessories and nonautomotive products.
Most of the stores also sell to local, regional and national repair garages, dealers, service stations, fleet owners and other accounts.