The value of the transaction goes far beyond the jobs it will create or the $25 million that Kohl's plans to spend on its new project. More important, experts say, is that the deal is the first major milestone in the hard-fought effort by both San Bernardino officials and the private sector to convert the closed military base into an engine that will help power the local economy for years to come.
Wisconsin-based Kohl's plans to build a large distribution center on the site is also a sign that the department-store chain has big plans to expand in Southern California, a move that would provide a much-needed boost to the retail property market across the five-county Southland.
Though Kohl's officials have consistently refused to discuss details about their expansion efforts in the region, GlobeSt.com reported earlier this year that the chain has told SoCal brokers and officials in different cities that it wants to open as many as 35 stores in the area over the next two years. Its first store is already under construction in Orange County.
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