More shopping, dining and hotel options are coming Covington's way with the recent announcement of commercial tenants for the Brentwood Retail shopping center.

Located across the street from the Super Wal-Mart on Ga. Highway 142, in a year's time the shopping center will contain a Hampton Inn, a Wachovia, a Wendy's and an Aldi store. Aldi is a no-frills German-based supermarket chain known for its low prices.

Developer Morris Ewing Jr., of ESR Covington Two LLC, said he was still in discussions with several other vendors to locate to the retail center.  

Ewing said an AT&T cellular store has signed on to move into the shopping center.

 He is also in discussions with two restaurant chains, one of which is a barbecue restaurant, a "high quality discount store" and another hotel.

"We hope to be able to announce some more users soon," Ewing said.

Construction on the Hampton Inn will begin on Monday said owner Navin Shah, who also owns a Hampton Inn franchise in Conyers. Shah said he expects construction on the 62,000 square feet hotel will take 12 months.

"We think that by next Fourth of July, we should open up," Shah said.

Shah said the hotel will be six stories tall with 105 rooms, two large meeting rooms and a board room.

"I think Covington is ready," Shah said of his decision to build the Hampton Inn. "Covington has matured now. Covington is ready to have a nice place for people to stay."

Ewing said construction on the Wendy's is expected to begin in the middle of the summer.

 Construction on the Wachovia bank and the Aldi supermarket is expected to begin this fall he said.

"We felt that Covington was under-served by some retail users," Ewing said, adding that the area's proximity to Intestate 20 was a prime motivator in getting so many high-profile tenants to sign on. "We hope to serve both the neighborhood and region."

Brentwood Retail will encompass nine out-lots and occupy 10 acres.