Development firm Thomas Enterprises hopes to begin construction soon on Upton's and Belk department stores and an expanded Old Navy clothing store, the first occupants of a third phase of the Fayette Pavilion Shopping Center.

Stan Thomas, president of the firm, said Kohl's, an upscale department store similar to Parisian, also has signed a lease, along with Jo-Ann Fabrics and Crafts.

Phase three will occupy the final 50 acres of the Pavilion, facing Ga. Highway 314. When finished, the giant shopping center north of Fayetteville will run from Ga. Highway 85 to Hwy. 314.

Kohl's will be the largest of the early signers, with 87,000 square feet, followed by Upton's at 76,000 and Belk at 65,000.

Old Navy will move from its current 15,000-sq. ft. space in phase one of the Pavilion to a new 25,000-sq. ft. space in phase three. A replacement for the store's old space already is "looking good," said Thomas, but he declined to name the store until a lease is finalized.

A delicatessen, McAllister's, also will occupy the 50-acre third phase, said Thomas.

County approval of his site plan remains to be accomplished before construction can begin, but Thomas said work is proceeding on that and he hopes to break ground within the month on Upton's and Belk.

Plans for an "upscale village" arrangement in phase three had to be abandoned, Thomas said, because the plan counted on high-end, sit-down restaurants, and those restaurants have backed out due to lack of liquor by the drink in Fayette County.