It's for sure. T.J. Maxx is coming to Hermitage.

The retailer said Thursday it has signed a lease with J.J. Gumberg Co. to settle in the former Phar-Mor store at Hermitage Towne Plaza.

On Wednesday an executive at Pittsburgh-based Gumberg, which owns the plaza, gave the green light for issuing a news release that said a deal was in hand for T.J. Maxx to occupy the 28,000-square-foot store at the plaza. But the retailer quickly responded by saying the announcement was premature.

"I can tell you this morning we signed the lease,'' Renee Katziff, a T.J. Maxx spokeswoman, said Thursday.

Tentative plans call for a second-quarter opening at the store, which was vacated by Phar-Mor two years ago.