Northland Plaza, located on Sycamore Road, is closer to completion and some stores could be ready in a month.

Panera Bread and Bed, Bath & Beyond are planning to open by Nov. 14. Panera will be housed outside the Plaza near Subway, which will be in one of the “out” buildings. The out buildings are considered part of the Plaza, but not part of the main building. Bed, Bath & Beyond will be located in the actual Plaza.

Northland already is home to Leath Furniture, JC Penney and Borders Books and Music.

The project, after tearing down the out building that was home to the old Lundeen’s Discount Liquors location, now is starting construction on the new buildings.

“By August 2003 the entire center should be fully operational,” said Paul Rasmussen, DeKalb Community Development director. “The construction has been extremely fast-track.”

The out building has been demolished completely, with the area now fenced off and construction companies busy trying to erect the new building.

When completed, the Plaza will house more than 250,000 square feet of commercial space including the various out buildings.

Panera and Bed, Bath & Beyond are not the only stores moving into the plaza.

Elder-Beerman, a department store with several locations downstate will occupy 50,000 square feet and possibly will open sometime in April.

Northland Plaza still has a few open spaces available. Rasmussen said the hope is for another restaurant, but nothing has been finalized yet.

Another store moving in is Maurices, which is relocating from 260 E. Lincoln Highway.

Maurices will move next to JC Penney from its downtown location. It will move the weekend of Oct. 19 and hopes to reopen around Oct. 24 or 25. Maurices will move into a 5,000-square-foot space. The store intends to make some changes regarding its inventory.

“We will not carry men’s clothes after we move, but are looking to have a bigger selection of women’s clothes,” said Susanne Munford, acting manager of Maurices.