In the news
Anaheim, Calif. — Mixed-use project Pointe Anaheim will be the first project for Insight Alliance — a limited liability corporation made up of three architecture firms, organized to target major mixed-use developments. In the Alliance are Seattle-based Callison Architecture, Atlanta-based Thompson, Ventulett, Stainback & Associates (TVS) and Hawaii-based hotel design firm Wimberly Allison Tong & Goo.
The three firms will work independently or jointly on projects, which will be contracted by individual member firms on a prime/subcontractor basis. Other projects on the roster for Insight Alliance include a 1.2 million-sq.-ft. mall in Raleigh, N.C.; the renovation of Honolulu's Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center and the expansion of New Orleans' Morial Convention Center and hotel.
Seattle and Los Angeles — DMX Music Inc. and AEI Music Inc. finally have the blessing of the U.S. justice department to merge. Antitrust investigations held up the transaction, which will create a new company to provide retailers with professionally programmed in-store music. Michael Malone, chairman and CEO of AEI, will become chairman of the board and Lon Troxel, president and CEO of DMX, will become president and COO of the new company.
New York — Fourth quarter 2001 will mark the beginning of massive changes at Penn Station. The $788 million project will expand the station into the landmark James A. Farley building. It will add 100,000 sq. ft. of retail, flagship Amtrak facilities, access links to JFK and Newark airports, and more space for commercial and conference uses. The project is a development of Penn Station Ventures — a joint venture of The Staubach Co. and Frankfurt Airport Services Worldwide of Frankfurt, Germany. Baltimore-based RTKL will assist with design duties on the project, which will be called Farley-Penn Station.
Minneapolis — Despite a declining market share in recent years, department stores remain the preferred shopping destination for nearly 40% of teenagers, according to retail securities analyst Jeff Klinefelter of U.S. Bancorp Piper Jaffray. The firm recently conducted a national study on buying behaviors and brand preferences of Gen-Y consumers.
“The department stores have an opportunity to take back some of the teen market share they lost to specialty stores if they identify certain brands not available in specialty stores and promote them to teens,” he says. Klinefelter's study consists of consultations with 500 high school students from 11 cities across the United States.
Retailer roundup
Dallas — Banana Republic, Gap and Old Navy will share space in the 116,000-sq.-ft. former Saks Fifth Avenue department store at Houston-based Hines Interests' Galleria mall. This marks the first time San Francisco-based Gap has integrated its three brands in the same shop. The project is slated for completion in March 2002.
Cincinnati — Federated Department Stores Inc. plans to fully integrate fulfillment operations and merchandise offerings of its bloomingdales.com and Bloomingdale's By Mail businesses. The company created Bloomingdale's Direct as an umbrella organization to manage the integration, appointing Franz Weiglein as president.
Implementation of the integrated infrastructure is scheduled for completion by fall 2001. The two units will share inventory and fulfillment operations and be serviced by a single planning and merchandising division under the supervision of Bloomingdale's Direct management. Federated Direct recently completed a similar restructuring of macys.com and Macy's By Mail.
CLARIFICATION
On page 26 of the April 2001 issue, S.R. Weiner and Associates VP Robert Frazier is pictured at the groundbreaking for the Crossing at Smithfield shopping center in Smithfield, R.I.