Major tenant openings City of Industry, Calif. - Sports Town USA recently opened at Puente Hills Mall in City of Industry. The 23,000 sq. ft. interactive store is located in the entertainment wing of the mall. Other anchors at the 1.2 million sq. ft. center, owned and managed by The Krausz Cos. Inc., San Francisco, include Robinson's-May, Sears and AMC 20 Theatres.
Defiance, Ohio - Sears recently joined the anchor lineup at Northtowne Mall in Defiance. The 104,000 sq. ft. store emphasizes the company's apparel line and also includes updated hardware, home improvement, appliance and electronics departments as well as an attached Sears Auto Center. The 374,000 sq. ft. mall, also anchored by JCPenney, Elder-Beerman and Regal Cinema, is owned and managed by Bryan, Ohio-based Isaac Properties Inc.
Nashville, Tenn. - MARS-The Musician's Planet recently opened a 40,000 sq. ft. store at 100 Oaks Mall in Nashville. The Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based chain features guitars; percussion instruments; keyboards; recording, pro audio and sound, and lighting equipment; and band and orchestra sheet music. The 850,000 sq. ft. mall also features such anchors as Off 5th-Saks Fifth Avenue Outlet, Burlington Coat Factory, JCPenney Catalog Outlet, CompUSA, Media Play, T.J. Maxx, Luxury Linens, Michael's, Reebok and a Regal Hollywood 27 Cinema. It is owned and managed by Memphis, Tenn.-based Belz Enterprises.
Atlanta - Construction recently began on The Avenue East Cobb, a 235,000 sq. ft. specialty retail center in metropolitan Atlanta's fast-growing Cobb County. The project is expected to cost approximately $41 million and open in late spring 1999. Representing a new concept for Atlanta-based developer Cousins Properties Inc., the center combines mall-based retailers, select local merchants and specialty restaurants in a convenient, upscale, open-air setting in an affluent neighborhood. Tenants will include Abercrombie & Fitch, Ann Taylor, Banana Republic, Bath & Body Works, Borders Books & Music, Chico's, Corner Bakery, Eddie Bauer, Footlocker, Gap/GapKids/Baby Gap, Gymboree, Harold's, Johnny Rockets, Lady Footlocker, Lenscrafters, Pottery Barn, Smith & Hawken, Victoria's Secret and Williams-Sonoma.
The Avenue East Cobb will be constructed in a horseshoe configuration creating an intimate setting while also providing generous parking, architectural design, landscaped pedestrian areas and unique hardscape elements throughout the center. In addition, it will feature individualized storefronts, reminiscent of an urban streetscape. The project is being designed by a joint venture team that comprises Birmingham, Ala.-based Crawford McWilliams Hatcher Architects and Atlanta-based Dougherty & Associates.
Harrisburg, Pa. - Pittsburgh-based Glimcher Group Inc. and Philadelphia-based Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust have joined forces in the development of Paxton Towne Centre, a 600,000 sq. ft. to 650,000 sq. ft. power center in Harrisburg. The companies expect to break ground on the $60 million project in the fourth quarter of this year with completion expected one year later. No anchors have been named yet.
Charlotte, N.C., and Scottsville, Ky. - Charlotte-based Centurion Development Corp. and Scottsville-based Dollar General Corp. jointly plan to blanket the Mid-Atlantic region with new stores located in small-town settings. Beginning in North Carolina, Centurion has an agreement with the retail chain to develop 100 new stores per year. Dollar General plans to open stores in small- and mid-sized communities that are not presently served by a unit, as well as expand or relocate existing stores to meet demand. The chain currently has more than 3,100 stores in the Midwest, South and Mid-Atlantic.
Lincoln, Neb. - Construction recently began in Lincoln on SouthPointe Pavilions, a 450,000 sq. ft. mall of upscale fashion retailers, restaurants and entertainment facilities. Tenants new to the city include Gap, GapKids, Old Navy, Bed Bath & Beyond, Abercrombie & Fitch and Chili's restaurant. Other tenants include anchors Von Maur and Ben Simon's along with Bath & Body Works, Victoria's Secret, Barnes & Noble and Douglas Theatres. The mall, expected to be completed in November, is being developed by Kansas City, Mo.-based R.E.D. Capital Development. In addition to the retail center and restaurants, SouthPointe Pavilions will include a two-story, 50,000 sq. ft. office complex, developed by Lincoln-based Trophy Properties LLC.
Staten Island, N.Y. - Expressway Plaza, a 95,000 sq. ft. shopping center, is scheduled to open this month in Staten Island. Anchored by a 60,400 sq. ft. Waldbaum's supermarket, it also features Hollywood Video, Applebee's, Pearle Vision and Sleepy's. The center is a development of Empire Realty Associates LLC, a joint venture between Rego Park, N.Y.-based Kalikow Development Associates and Roslyn, N.Y.-based Feldco Development Corp.
Fort Worth, Texas - Tenants in Phase I of Trinity Commons, an upscale, community shopping center in Fort Worth, will begin opening this month. Anchored by Tom Thumb Market, some of the other tenants include Lester Melnick, Pappagallo, Hallmark, Starbucks Coffee, Mi Cocina, Zoopa, Charleston's, Village Jewelers, Zuka Juice and Blockbuster. Phase II, currently under way and expected to be completed this fall, will feature such retailers as Marble Slab, Learning Express, Just Add Water, David Hunt Furs, DSW and Leather Center. The 200,000 sq. ft. center is a development of The Trademark Cos., Fort Worth, and Lincoln Properties Co., Dallas.
The architectural style of Trinity Commons blends ranch and Mediterranean styles, utilizing stone, antique clay and tile roofing. The center's buildings are surrounded by generous walkways, ample parking areas, and plenty of green space, all designed with a pedestrian-oriented focus.
Lebanon, Tenn. - The first phase of The Outlet Village of Lebanon, located 25 miles east of Nashville, Tenn., recently opened. A development of Baltimore-based Prime Retail, it features approximately 50 designer and specialty outlet stores in a village-style setting with shopping streets divided by landscaped courtyards. At complete buildout, which is planned to include two additional phases, the center will total more than 400,000 sq. ft. of GLA and include more than 100 outlet stores.
San Diego - Work is under way on Mission Valley West, a 202,000 sq. ft. retail center in San Diego being redeveloped into a power center. The majority of tenants will open in October with some following in spring 1999. Commitments include Gateway Computer, Golfsmith, Borders Books, Marshalls, Old Navy Clothing Co., Just For Feet, Koo Koo Roo and The Gordon Biersch Brewing Co. Los Angeles-based Westfield America Inc. owns Mission Valley West.
Palm Springs, Calif. - Redevelopment work is planned for Desert Fashion Plaza in downtown Palm Springs, expanding the mall to approximately 350,000 sq. ft. and renaming it Palm Springs Promenade. The most dramatic changes will be removal of the center's roof and the creation of a village atmosphere. The main entrance to the mall will be replaced by an open-air plaza with outdoor dining areas, specialty shops, live theater, a nightclub and a year-round Farmer's Market. Phoenix-based Tyndall Associates is the architect on the project.
Plans also include the addition of a new cinemaplex, Metropolitan Theaters, joining existing anchor Saks Fifth Avenue. The entire project is expected to be completed in November 1999. Phoenix-based Arizona Partners recently became the center's new owners.
Meriden, Conn. - Greenwich, Conn.-based Charter Realty and Development Corp. has been retained by Conshohocken, Pa.-based Weingarten Properties for the exclusive leasing and redevelopment of Meriden Parkade in Meriden. Ocean State Joblot has been signed as one of two new anchor tenants. Other anchors at the 176,000 sq. ft. center include Ames department store and CVS Drug. Also part of the redevelopment project are new pylon signage, renovated common areas and facelifts on some of the storefronts.
Garden City, Kan. - Sears will replace Wal-Mart at Garden City Plaza in Garden City, and plans are in the works to upgrade the center. The 96,000 sq. ft. Sears store, scheduled to open in October, joins JCPenney in anchoring the 187,246 sq. ft. plaza. In addition to this anchor change, plans include refurbishing the existing canopy, upgrading the parking lot lighting as well as repaving and re-striping the parking lot. Garden City Plaza is owned and managed by Chattanooga, Tenn.-based CBL & Associates Properties Inc.
San Ramon, Calif. - Renovation work that will result in the addition of a new 51,500 sq. ft. Nob Hill Foods grocer and an architectural redesign of the existing plaza area is under way in San Ramon on The Marketplace at San Ramon. Scheduled to open in late fall, Nob Hill Foods replaces the former 28,000 sq. ft. Apple supermarket. Other anchors at the center include Any Mountain and McWhorter's Stationery. The 170,000 sq. ft. center is owned and operated by Carlsbad, Calif.-based GMS Realty LLC.