RED LOBSTER CONSIDERING SOUTHERN ILLINOIS LOCATION

MARION, Ill. -- Red Lobster may make an exception on its usual population requirements at Marion.

The seafood restaurant chain normally requires a city to have a population of at least 50,000 before it will consider locating there, but Red Lobster spokesman said Marion, which has a population of about 15,000, was an exception.

"We have not closed a deal for a Marion location yet,' said Red Lobster spokesman Dick Monroe. "But we are looking pretty aggressively at Marion. We've found that in some cases, the draw of a trade area will make up for the lack of immediate population."

The trade area will be greatly enhanced at Marion when the new $165 million Illinois Center mall opens there this fall. Grand opening of the mall, which will feature anchor stores Dillards, Sears, Phar-Mor, and Target, along with more than 100 other stores, is Oct. 2, but Sears is expected to open early, in August.

Also in the area near the Illinois Center will be a Wal-Mart Store, and Sam's Warehouse operation.