Several major retailers are planning to open stores in The Woodlands in the next 12 months, adding hundreds of new jobs to an already robust retail employment market.

Costco, Nordstrom, H-E-B and Whole Foods Market will soon open stores in The Woodlands, and smaller retailers in the Creekside Park Village Center, Hughes Landing, The Woodlands Mall and Market Street either have already opened or are planning to open.

New jobs

Planned for a November opening at I-45 and Hwy. 242, membership warehouse club retailer Costco is expected to add about 75 jobs, while upscale fashion retailer Nordstrom, opening Sept. 5 at The Woodlands Mall, will hire 250 new employees.

Kate Hensler was named store manager of The Woodlands’ Nordstrom store in June, which is working to staff the store ahead of its fall opening.

“We try to hire great sellers—people who love to sell,” Hensler said. “In addition, we hire friendly, goal-oriented people, who love fashion and then empower them to make the best decision on behalf of the customer.”

Grocery chain H-E-B plans to hire 300 employees for its new location that is set to open in late 2014. Whole Foods plans to open a new store sometime next year that will call for 200 employees.

Other retailers like Microsoft in The Woodlands Mall, Tyler’s near the mall, Trina Turk, Vineyard Vines and Kendra Scott at Market Street have all opened in the past few months, bringing with them hundreds of retail jobs. click HERE for complete story