Two discount retailers open their doors side-by-side at the North Andover Mall on Thursday, Oct. 29, adding nearly 48,000 square feet of shopping along the Route 114 corridor.

Marshalls and HomeGoods will both hold grand opening celebrations starting at 8 a.m. at the mall at 350 Winthrop Ave., according to the Eagle-Tribune. Both stores are owned by Framingham-based TJX Companies, which also operates TJ Maxx.

The Marshalls is not entirely new. The Lawrence location on Route 114 is relocating about a mile south to the North Andover Mall, the Eagle-Tribune reported. The new store spans 24,000 square feet and is expected to bring about 60 full- and part-time jobs, Patch reported.

Nancy Carpenter, president of Marshalls, said in an announcement that the company is "excited to provide North Andover shoppers with high-quality, brand-name merchandise at an amazing value."

The HomeGoods next door will cover about 23,585 square feet and fill roughly 65 positions, according to Patch. The home-decor chain carries furniture, rugs, lighting, kitchen items, bedding and other household goods.

Together, the two stores are expected to employ about 125 people in North Andover.

Both stores plan opening-day hours of 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Regular hours after that are expected to be 9:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. daily.

Charitable donations

Each store plans a $10,000 donation to mark the opening. HomeGoods said its grant will go to Neighbors in Need in North Andover, a group that works to reduce hunger and help people in Greater Lawrence facing economic hardship. The recipient of the Marshalls donation has not been publicly identified.

Neighbors eager to shop

Local business owners and shoppers have been watching the construction for weeks. Steve Buco, manager of Wine and Beer at the Andovers, told the Andover Townsman in October that he was looking forward to the construction wrapping up and the stores opening. Kate Keisling, owner of the Purple Couch Bookstore, also expressed anticipation.

North Andover resident Debbie Henderson summed up the mood in the Market Basket parking lot in late September: "It's a mistake because I'll probably be there a lot."

The North Andover Mall already includes a Market Basket. A closing date for the Lawrence Marshalls location has not been announced.