Neligh Shopko On Hold As Developers Consider Larger Store

The company developing a Shopko Hometown store in Neligh has put the project on hold as the company considers building a larger store in the community.

Neligh Economic Development Director Greg Ptacek said the tax increment financing project with real estate developer Oppidan will not move forward as planned in early March. 

Normal Shopko Hometown store sizes, such as West Point’s Hometown Shopko, are 26,000 square feet. Neligh was slated for a new prototype store, which has a smaller foot print of 17,500 square feet.

Ptacek said Shopko’s management team is concerned with merchandizing the smaller stores and has put a pause on all 17,500 square foot stores until a merchandizing plan is developed. Shopko’s Growth Committee will meet within the next few months to re-assess Neligh’s market potential to see if Neligh’s market would warrant a 26,000 square foot store. 

Prior to the introduction of the 17,500 square foot prototype store, Neligh was slated for a 26,000 square foot store. 

Ptacek said representatives from Oppidan were quick to note that this is a pause in the development, not a death sentence for the project. Shopko is owned by venture capitalists and has an aggressive growth plan. 
 
The public hearings slated for March 7 and 8 will be postponed until the market has been reassessed.