New Sierra store at Bemidji’s Westridge Center to open March 28

Sierra will hold a grand opening at the Westridge Center in Bemidji on Saturday, March 28, 2026, company officials announced, adding an outdoor and activewear retailer to a shopping center still rebuilding after the 2024 closure of Marketplace Foods. The new store occupies one of four retail spaces carved out of the former grocery building, a redevelopment that has already attracted other mall relocations and new tenants.

Catherine Misko, Minnesota/North Dakota district manager for Sierra, said in a release, "We are excited to announce the grand opening of our new store, Sierra, in Bemidji." Misko noted the chain’s corporate ties, saying, "As part of the TJX group, which includes well-known brands like TJ Maxx and HomeGoods, we are thrilled to become a new member of this vibrant community." The release included a further commitment to the local market: "We are committed to providing quality products and exceptional service to our customers, and we look forward to contributing to the growth and prosperity of Bemidji."

The Sierra location joins a growing roster at Westridge Center. Maurice’s relocated from the Paul Bunyan Mall and opened in November 2025, and Bath & Body Works is planning to relocate from the mall next door to the space beside Maurice’s. Ulta Beauty is slated to move in next to Sally Beauty later in 2026. Lueken’s Village Foods took over the convenience store and gas station portion of the Marketplace footprint following Marketplace Foods’ closure on Aug. 21, 2024, a shutdown that earlier was described as leaving "a large void in the Westridge Center."

Sierra traces its roots to 1986, when it began as Sierra Trading Post in Reno, Nevada, selling discounted outdoor gear via catalog. The company moved to Cheyenne, Wyoming, in 1992, expanded e-commerce in 1999, and was acquired by The TJX Companies in 2012; the brand was shortened to Sierra in 2018 and has since expanded to more than 100 stores nationwide. The TJX parentage links Sierra to a TJ Maxx store already operating at Westridge Center, strengthening the center’s national-brand retail mix.

A Facebook excerpt accompanying earlier coverage included the line, "Grand opening of Bemidji's new Sierra set for March 28 ... While no definitive opening dates were given, PREIT said both stores would debut," suggesting some earlier communications did not list firm dates. The company announcement was published with several images and media assets, including files titled "Westridge Center - Press Release.png", "IMG_6760.jpeg" and "021126.N.BP.BLU - 1.jpg".

For Bemidji shoppers, the Sierra opening restores variety to a key commercial node and broadens local access to outdoor and activewear goods without a trip to larger Twin Cities outlets. The city and shoppers will watch whether the new store, plus Bath & Body Works and Ulta Beauty moves, revitalize foot traffic at Westridge Center and shift customer patterns away from the Paul Bunyan Mall. Store hours, grand-opening schedule and local hiring totals have not been released; those details will determine the short-term community impact and the likely boost to seasonal retail employment.