Ross Dress For Less Plans Oct. 8 Grand Opening in Naperwest Plaza

A new discount retailer is moving into the Chicago area and will soon be opening a store in Naperville. Ross Dress for Lesswill open this fall in the Naperwest Plaza along Route 59.

The chain is one of the largest discount retailers in the country, with more than 1,000 stores in 27 states, according to the Ross website. Ross will be opening 12 stores in the Chicago suburbs, creating about 600 jobs.

An Oct. 8 grand opening is planned for the Naperwest Plaza store, according to a news release from Ross. In anticipation of its grand opening, it will begin accepting online job applications Aug. 15.

Inland Real Estate Corporation announced Aug. 2 that the retailer will be filling space in its mall at 514 S. Route 59.  Other retailers in that plaza include and .

"We are excited to be entering the Chicago area, which will significantly expand our national footprint," said Michael Balmuth, vice chairman and chief executive officer, in a news release.

"With nearly 30 years of delivering unbeatable savings, along with 12 new stores conveniently located in established shopping centers, we are confident that Ross will be a terrific destination for Chicago area customers to find great deals on name brands for the family and the home."

The retailer will occupy about 180,000 square feet of the Inland Real Estate Corporation’s available retail space at six of its properties, Inland said Tuesday.

Ross has its headquarters in Pleasanton, Calif., and has fiscal 2010 revenues of $7.9 billion, according to its website. The stores offer name brand and designer apparel, accessories, footwear and home décor at savings of 20 percent to 60 percent off department and specialty store regular prices.

Along with the Naperville location, Ross will be opening stores in Algonquin, Arlington Heights, Bloomingdale, Crystal Lake, Matteson,  Niles, Orland Park, Rockford, Schaumburg, Skokie and South Elgin.