The vacancy created at Vintage Oaks shopping center by the impending Ben Franklin Crafts closure has already been filled, much to the delight of the center’s management.

Vintage Oaks announced that Designer Shoe Warehouse, better known by shoppers as DSW, will take over the Ben Franklin building in July and they target an opening by November, just in time for the holidays.

With more than 300 locations nationwide, DSW provides “the style-conscious and value-minded shoe shopper with countless designer brands at affordable prices,” according to its website. The company opened its first store in Dublin, Ohio, in 1991 and went public on the New York Stock Exchange in 2005.

The Vintage Oaks DSW store will occupy more than 18,000 square feet and is the first location for DSW in the North Bay. Typical DSW stores are 25,000 square feet, with more than 85 percent of square footage used as selling space. Shoppers can expected to enjoy a selection of 30,000 pairs of shoes in more than 2,000 styles, according to DSW press material.

Ben Franklin Crafts is Novato’s only large-scale craft store. Rumors of the store’s impending closure circulated for months before a “Store Closing” sign went up in the first week of February and employees confirmed the craft store would close by May. Until then, shoppers can take advantage of sales of 20 percent off, and in some cases, even more. All sales are final, however. 

Also this winter, Tuttimelon Frozen Yogurt and Gelato, Justice (young girls’ apparel) and Subway Sandwiches opened at Vintage Oaks. The Southern Pacific Smokehouse restaurant is slated to open this spring in the former Shane Co. jewelers building and serve American-style barbecue with live music.