Opening the local newspaper this week, I thought by mistake this must be a back issue from the late 1990s. A double take was required as the lead story read “Lining Up For Work” with 200 positions to be filled by a new department store.

At a time when we are said to be in the deepest recession since World War II and stores are continuing to close across the country, our blessed Napa welcomes a new neighbor occupying 64,000 square feet in the center of town and adding 200 jobs to the local economy.

In the current economic climate, consumers are confronted with fear of job loss, limited available credit and lack of disposable income. Appearing to swim upstream, Napa is one of Kohl's department stores' 30 new locations opening in California, bringing their total number of stores to 121. 

Beyond being grateful for the arrival of our new neighbor, perhaps we can learn from its optimism. Economic context changes so quickly. It was not so long ago that our city was perhaps over-selective when we longed for a Nordstrom or Macy's of our own. Now, we rightfully extend our arms gratefully to a less glamorous but very welcome, Kohl's.

As other businesses attempt to survive, Kohl's is moving forward with an investment of both confidence and capital. Perhaps its vision for the future is one we might all embrace. It may serve us well to look at our economy with a more optimistic perspective.

What if the financial front page read “employment tops 90 percent” instead of “unemployment nearing 10 percent.”  What if “Dow Jones at Highest Close Since March 09” were headline news instead of being buried deep in the daily paper. What if we started our day knowing that “July Reports First Fall in Unemployment in               15 Months.”

Attitude transcends positive thinking into a business plan of more than faith. It appears Kohl's is taking just that path today in Napa and we might be wise to follow.

Max Kohl founded Kohl's as a traditional grocery store in the mid-1940s. A long evolutionary path has resulted in a nationwide retail chain earning $229 million for the year ending Aug. 1, 2009. The company positioned itself “between higher-end department stores and the discounters, selling everything from candy to engine oil to sporting equipment.”

In 2000, Kohl's operated 298 stores in 25 states with 43,000 employees. By 2006, Kohl's had 817 stores in 47 states with 114,000 employees. In its 63-year history, surviving economic cycles and growing pains, the company has certainly learned to adapt and redesign itself to meet customer needs.

In our recovering economy, shoppers are confined to a budget of necessities and purchased based on price.

Kohl's has found its niche by following its mission to be the leading value-oriented, family focused, specialty department store.

At a time when both jobs and optimism are scarce, let Napa welcome both the presence and attitude of our new neighbor. Seems wise to bring out the welcome wagon and follow Kohl's path of growth and expansion.

Bogue is a real estate broker in Napa. He can be reached at 486-5511 or cbnapa@napanet.net.