Queen City moving and expanding on Cherry Road

Queen City Audio, Video & Appliance plans to open a store next to the Super Bi-Lo on Cherry Road in Rock Hill later this year, the store and developer confirmed Wednesday.

The electronics store, which is under construction, will be between the supermarket and the Carmike 7 movie theater.

Queen City store manager Steve Broome said the Charlotte-based retailer's current building at 2550 Cherry Road has been sold, so the company decided to move and expand. What will happen to the old building has not been disclosed.

"The new store will be three times bigger. It's new, and it's clean," Broome said. "It can't do anything but be better for us."

Queen City, with 15 locations around Charlotte, has long operated its Cherry Road store near Interstate 77. But in recent years, it has been forced to cope with road construction and congestion and the migration of shoppers to other parts of town. Broome said the new location will benefit from the new Super Bi-Lo's ability to draw customers.

The investment also is another piece of development on Cherry Road. The busy thoroughfare has seen several changes recently with taxpayer road improvements and private redevelopment efforts, including Super Bi-Lo replacing the former Rock Hill Mall, a facelift at Northeast Plaza and Earth Fare renovating the former Harris Teeter near Winthrop.

Broome said the 33,000-square-foot big box store will allow him to expand his selection of televisions, stereos and home appliances by about 20 percent. He also plans to widen the store's offerings of kitchen appliances and accessories.

Developer McDonald Properties has several other parcels available surrounding the Queen City and Super Bi-Lo site, but details on possible tenants or recent discussions were not available Wednesday.

This story was originally published May 22, 2008 at 12:41 AM with the headline "Queen City moving and expanding on Cherry Road."