Dollar Tree and Petco coming to Little River Shopping Center

A couple of the vacant properties in the Little River Shopping Center in Annandale will be occupied within the next few months. A Dollar Tree is moving into the spot next to the Blockbuster [in photo], which was vacated by the Seoul Department Store. A Petco will move into the long-empty site that once held a drug store. [Was it a Rite Aid? It’s been gone so long, I can’t remember what it was.]

Construction of the Petco is expected to start within the next few weeks, and the store should open in November – just in time to get your pets some holiday treats.

The 12,700-square foot Petco will have a “natural shop,” with organic and holistic pet food; a full-service grooming salon; and dog training service, says Petco spokesperson Brooke Simon.

Information about job openings will be posted closer to the opening date, she says. About 20 to 25 full and part-time jobs will be available.

There are four Petco stores within six miles of Annanandale – in Burke, Bailey’s Crossroads, Fairfax, and Tysons Corner. Then, there’s the Annandale institution, Super Pets on 4415 John Marr Drive [where I used to buy crickets for the kids’ pet anoles].

The 9,508-square-foot Dollar Tree store is scheduled to open in mid-September, says company spokesperson Chelle Davis. About 10 to 12 jobs will be available. For more information about employment, visit the Dollar Tree careers website.

Dollar Tree sells seasonal items, party goods, gift wrap, health and beauty products, housewares, food and snacks, apparel and accessories, and household cleaners – for $1 or less. Stores have specialty sections such as the Create-a-Gift Basket area and Teachers’ Corner.

Annandale already has a Dollar Tree, in the Bradlick Shopping Center at the intersection of Braddock and Backlick roads. Other nearby Dollar Trees are in Landmark Mall, Springfield, and Fairfax.

The shopping center, at 7400 Little River Turnpike between Medford Drive and Markham Street, is owned by the Beatty Development Corp., based in McLean. It will have another empty space soon, as the Something Special card shop closes in August or September. It wouldn’t be a surprise if Blockbuster closes, too, as the company is scrambling to avoid bankruptcy.