The new Marshalls at Potomac Marketplace in Ranson is set to open the end of October. Toni Milbourne

RANSON — Shoppers in Jefferson County will soon have another location to shop for discounted goods, as the Eastern Panhandle’s first Marshalls will open its doors in the Potomac Marketplace in Ranson at the end of October.

“As a junior anchor store, Marshalls is a great fit,” said Jason Lazar, COO for Heidenberg Properties, the marketing agent for the shopping center. “This is a really big step in cementing Potomac Marketplace as a premier shopping center.”

Marshall’s, owned by TJX Companies, was founded in 1956. It is an off-price department store offering a variety of goods. Currently there are over 1,000 stores in the United States; however, the Marshalls set to open here is only the fourth such store for West Virginia.

“This one will be the best,” Lazar said.

According to Lazar, the Ranson location has been successful in small store leasing, citing Pivot Physical Therapy, Long & Foster and AT&T as recent acquisitions. He also pointed out the expansion of Ellsworth Music, which, he said, “shows positive action.”

The Marshalls addition has taken two spots and combined them into a 22,000 square-foot facility that will give shoppers a significant addition to shopping opportunities, right before the arrival of the holiday season.

“I’m excited to have somewhere else to shop!” said Lisa Biggs, of Shenandoah Junction. “We need more stores so we don’t always have to go out town.”

Lazar said Marshalls is a great tenant and they will likely drive the market to draw in other tenants.

“We market the space actively. This is a great center where tenants do well,” Lazar said, mentioning the addition of Marshalls will help fill some of the available spots in the center.

Currently, there are eight in-line unoccupied locations, ranging in size from 1,000 to 4,300 square-feet. In addition, there are four acres of property on the left side of Kohl’s that are available for potential partners, Lazar said.

“This is an opportunity zone,” Lazar said, indicating the opening of Marshalls will open the field for others to follow.

Regardless of what may come in the future to Potomac Marketplace, the opening of the newest venture has Jefferson County residents excited and ready to check them out.

“I’ve never been to one [a Marshalls],” said Jenny Park, of Harpers Ferry. “I’m looking forward to seeing if I like it or not.”