A new specialty retailer is scheduled to open at the North Grand Mall, 2801 Grand Ave., prompting questions about the mall’s plans for future expansion and its potential interaction with a planned new mall.

C.J. Banks, which offers casual apparel for women sizes 14 and up, is scheduled to open in September.

The 3,200 square foot store is to be located across from its affiliated store Christopher & Banks, said Marianne Fasano, spokesperson for GK Development Inc, based from Illinois.

“The new store will allow Christopher & Banks to really complement their merchandise,” Fasano said. “Shoppers who like what they have to offer but need other sizes will be able to find what they need in the new C.J. Banks store.”

“We are really excited to have the store join our line-up,” said Kurt Carlson, general manager of North Grand Mall.

North Grand Mall is a 350,000 square foot regional mall that is owned by GK Development Inc.

“Plans for a $20 million renovation and expansion of North Grand Mall have been proposed. The plan will add one or two anchor stores and several smaller stores to the existing three major department stores and 50 specialty stores,” Fasano said.

“GK Development is constantly exploring relationships with retailers to make sure we have the right market for the area,” Fasano said.

The plans are expected to move forward sometime in 2005. North Grand Mall is the only mall in Ames, but plans to build a new mall have been proposed.

“It is too early to speculate on the effect the new mall will have on North Grand Mall,” Carlson said. “The plans have not even been approved yet.”

Like the new mall, plans for the North Grand expansion are still in the first stages.

“GK Development is pursuing its own goals at North Grand Mall,” Fasano said. “There is no way to tell what effect it will have on North Grand.”