LIHUE — No more buying shoes online, said Mason Moriguchi of Sign Art and also a coach with the Waimea High School football program, Wednesday afternoon while he and a Sign Art crew aligned a Sports Authority sign.
“They can get it here, when it opens,” he said.
Jonell Kaohelaulii, Kukui Grove Center marketing director, said the installation of the Sports Authority sign is just a start of the excitement being stirred up at the shopping center.
“Sports Authority will have a good assortment of sports-specific shoes,” Kaohelaulii said. “Our other tenants have a good selection of general purpose, cross training, and hiking shoes, but Sports Authority will offer the more specialized shoes for sports like football, volleyball, and even wrestling.”
The business community can get a preview of the spaces being occupied by both Sports Authority and Pier 1 Imports from 5 to 7 p.m. March 6 when the Layton Construction and Kauai Builders will help sponsor a Kauai Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours in the parking lot between the former Sears store and the Big Kmart.
“There will be a limited ‘hard hat tour’ of both the Pier 1 Imports and Sports Authority space,” Kaohelaulii said.
Registration is being handled through the Kauai Chamber of Commerce at www.kauaichamber.org, or by calling 245-7363.
Kukui Grove is also hosting a job fair, March 8 and 9 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the shopping center.
“With the anticipated opening of the two tenants and the openings available from the existing tenants, we should have about a hundred jobs available,” Kaohelaulii said. “There will be a variety of job opportunities ranging from entry level sales, food service through management positions.”
Kaohelaulii said to support the candidates’ endeavors, the shopping center will also be offering giveaways, including up to a pair of $500 gift cards.
“This is to demonstrate our support for candidates,” Kaohelaulii said. “They can use the gift cards to get new clothes, shoes, or supplies for their new jobs.”
Additionally, she said the first 20 hires will receive $50 gift cards to help them get started in their new jobs.
• Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
