News Photo by Darby Hinkley The Marshalls department store in Alpena is seen on Tuesday night. The store is one of many franchise businesses that have popped up in the Alpena area in recent years.

ALPENA — Over the past several years, the list of franchise stores and restaurants in Alpena has grown, but people in the area still express interest in other things they would like to see developed locally.

Target, Olive Garden, Buffalo Wild Wings, Panera Bread, TJ Maxx, Kohl’s, and Texas Roadhouse were just a few businesses readers suggested in comments to The News in a recent Facebook post about area development.

Some people posted that they would like to see businesses that cater to kids, like a trampoline or bounce house complex, while others believe a hotel with an indoor waterpark would be nice to have locally.

Some of the hundreds of people who commented on the question said they would like to see more affordable housing for families in the Alpena area.

In recent years, a new Marshalls department store, Aldi grocery store, and Starbucks coffeehouse have opened on M-32, and an Ollie’s Bargain Outlet opened last year on U.S.-23 South.

This year, a new Hampton Inn and Suites is slated to open on M-32, as are a new Quiznos and Hot ‘n’ Now near the Alpena hospital.

As the opening of those stores neared, the excitement of residents in the area heightened, and customers flooded the businesses when doors finally opened.

Alpena Area Chamber of Commerce Economic Development Director Mike Mahler said some national chains have expressed and do express interest in Alpena.

He said that, sometimes, as was the case of Ollie’s, the company did its own work and data collection and didn’t seek his help. He said national brands often do that, so he suspects other companies might be exploring Alpena as an option.

“They sometimes have their own teams and do all of their own work,” Mahler said. “Sometimes, they just don’t tip their hands to us.”

Right now, Alpena has few options left for investment in new businesses such as restaurants or small shops, at least on or near M-32. Most of the local strip malls are almost full or don’t have the design or size a big national business would seek.

Mahler said there is space available in other parts of Alpena, but most national chains are likely interested are more focused on M-32 development.

“There are certainly not a lot of those types of strip malls out there right now,” he said. “U.S.-23 just doesn’t have the density or traffic count.”

Mahler said potential developers are always poking around, and you never know who or what will come calling next. He said larger corporate franchises consider the population in Northeast Michigan, as well as the proximity — or lack thereof — to highways and freeways, and the labor force.

Still, Mahler said, Alpena has a lot to offer, and, when other companies see the success of Starbucks, Marshalls, and Aldi, they may want a part of the action locally.

“These companies know what the other ones are doing and how successful they are or not,” he said. “I’m sure there are things going on behind the scenes, just like with Ollie’s, that I don’t know about, yet.”

In the last five years, there have been a series of store closures in Alpena, which could create opportunities for new businesses. The Rite Aid on State Avenue closed, as did JCPenney in the former Alpena Mall on U.S.-23 South. The Big Lots on U.S.-23 South is slated to close, and the old Burger King nearby is still sitting unused.

Mahler said that, when franchises decide on a location, they typically like to locate near other national chains, which means many would like to be near Walmart, Meijer, and the Home Depot on M-32.

Mahler said there is still ample property available out on M-32 for potential developers who are considering building from the ground up.

He said many strides have been made in adding more brands to Alpena, and he suspects more will come down the road.

Because Northeast Michigan has a large population of people who enjoy the outdoors and do things like fish, hunt, and camp, several people posted in the Facebook comments that they believe a Bass Pro Shop, Cabelas, or Gander Mountain would be successful in Alpena.

Other people said a Hobby Lobby, Michael’s, Costco, or Sam’s Club would be nice and would draw people from all over Northeast Michigan to shop.

Some named businesses that are either closing store locations around the country or are changing their business models, making it unlikely they would add any new locations in Alpena or anywhere else.

A couple of people wrote they would like to see a Bed Bath and Beyond in Alpena. That is something very unlikely to happen, as the company filed for bankruptcy and closed all of its stores.

Kohl’s also announced it was closing more than two dozen stores, but no closures in Michigan have been announced so far.

Red Lobster filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and closed 50 stores in the United States, and Buffalo Wild Wings closed all of its restaurants in Canada, though the restaurant chain still develops new locations in the United States that are the drive-thru variety.

Steve Schulwitz can be reached at 989-358-5689 or sschulwitz@TheAlpenaNews.com. Follow him on X @ss_alpenanews.com.