It looks like Old Navy and Sears are finally getting a new neighbor.

CBL & Associates Properties, Inc., recently announced the addition of clothing store Steve & Barry’s Joplin’s Northpark Mall.

The store, which will take residence in the former Montgomery Ward store, draws in many people with its focus on providing most of its stock for less than $10.

“We are a shopping destination,” said Ji Hea (Jay) Kim, spokeswoman for Steve & Barry’s. “We are confident that we offer a genuine shopping experience. We have a unique store, something shoppers can’t find anywhere else.”

As part of this unique shopping experience, customers will have the opportunity to choose from a variety of products.

“We have gym wear, casual business wear, college apparel and various other objects,” Kim said. “We are a one-stop shop for families.”

Steve & Barry’s first opened in 1985 as an apparel store at the University of Pennsylvania.

Students realizing they could get school gear at lower prices flocked to the store, generating enough success to see other stores open on college campuses nationwide.

Steve & Barry’s expanded into shopping malls in the late 1990s. The company carries the largest collection of collegiate-licensed apparel in the nation, with more than 350 licenses to choose from. They also are the exclusive carrier of the Stephon Marbury apparel line, the Starbury Collection. Marbury, a professional basketball player for the New York Knicks, formed their partnership in 2006.

As far as the Joplin store will be concerned, the selection of college apparel is still undecided.

“Right now we will have school apparel from the University of Arkansas, Kansas State, and some other schools,” said Kim. “If you don’t see a school represented in our store and you would like them to be, you can always go on our Web site and fill out a customer feedback form. What we will have will cater to the public.”

A concern for some is whether or not the store will feature Missouri Southern apparel.

There is a possibility it could impact the University’s bookstore.

“We welcome the healthy competition,” said Liz Scheurich, bookstore coordinator. “We hope that our customers who are looking for Southern gear would come shop here. We deal with vendors who have quality thread counts, and we offer a wide variety of apparel. We carry brands such as Champion, JanSport, and we are going to be carrying Under Armour.”

The projected date for the store’s opening hasn’t been officially set, but it is anticipated the store will open before fall.

“We hope to open the store at Northpark Mall in the summer, preferably before school starts back up,” Kim said.

With the store opening comes new jobs which students could find a home in.

“We generally open a new store with about 100 employees,” Kim said.

The store comes to Joplin not just as a part of the company’s growth, but due to customers’ requests.

“We decided to open a store in Joplin due to the demands of customers, their feedback and because we are going through growth,” Kim said. “It’s part of our nationwide expansion. Currently, there are 192 Steve & Barry’s stores in operation, 77 of which opened last year.”

Needless to say, Steve & Barry’s is looking to make an impact in Joplin.

“We are glad to be a part of the community,” Kim said.