Mall officials announced Tuesday that the clothing store would be opening sometime around Easter.
According to Darby Bennett, managing member of the mall, the lease to bring Dawahares to the Village Center was signed last week by officials from both companies.
"We've signed the lease, and we're coming to Harlan," said company president Harding Dawahare.
Frank Dawahare said he learned of the plans Monday from his brother that the company decided to open a store in Harlan. He said the store would start advertising its anticipated arrival to the public early enough to get everyone used to the idea of Dawahares opening in the mall.
Company officials said that the market is good in Harlan and the company feels like it will be a good complement to the stores already located at the mall.
Bennett said construction of the space for the new store would begin as soon as blueprints are completed and permits are obtained. Once the construction is completed, the store will take up 13,456 square feet of mall space.
Harding said the new store will employ around 15 people.
"We anticipate a very positive impact on the mall and our community with the addition of Dawahares to our tenant mix. We hope to bring increased traffic and sales to all other tenants at the property, while adding the diversity of shopping selections available to our customers," said Bennett.
Village Center officials said it hopes to keep customers trading locally so they don't have to go to larger cities to find products they want to purchase.
According to Bennett, one of the biggest reasons for customers going elsewhere is lack of selection or diversity.
"Shopping locally helps everyone in our community; it creates job opportunities and keeps the money we earn in our community working for us," said Bennett.
"One of the reasons the we elected to pursue Dawahares as a tenant was because so many of our current customers have just stopped me on the street over the past few years and asked me why we don't have a Dawahares at the mall."
Bennett added that he feels that the new store will be warmly received by the community.
"We do three things to bring in business. We bring in national brand name items. We sell a lot of University of Kentucky items and we have the ability to bring in exclusive items at great price points," said Harding Dawahare.
According to company officials, Harlan had been considered for a store in the past.
"Our roots are in eastern Kentucky, and we are really looking forward to coming to Harlan," said Harding Dawahare.
The store in Harlan will be the 32nd opened by the Dawahare family.
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