Done Deals
Bears Going to Raleigh
Build A Bear Workshop, a national chain of 15 stores, plans to open a location
this fall at Crabtree Valley Mall in Raleigh, North Carolina. The specialty
retailer offers customers the opportunity to customize teddy bears. While
walking through an assembly-line and visiting stages of the production
procedure, customers pick out various aspects of their bear, with the entire
process taking approximately half an hour. The company expects to grow by 25
stores this year. By 2007, the company anticipates operating 200 locations.
For more information, contact Crabtree Valley Mall, 919-787-8993; Build A Bear Workshop, 888-560-BEAR; Web site: www.buildabear.com.
Ron Jon’s Surf Shops Switches Sizes
Ron Jon’s Surf Shops decided to downsize its store in Orlando’s Festival Bay from 50,000 sq.ft. to 20,000 sq.ft. The company determined that super stores don’t necessarily equate to big profits. While the 52,500-sq.ft. flagship store in Cocoa Beach is highly successful, other stores in the chain have been less profitable.
Festival Bay, a 1.1-million sq.ft. mixed-use center, also houses a Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World and Cinemark USA, both of which are already open. Ron Jon’s and Vans skateboard park are the two remaining anchors, both of which are expected to open in 2001. Belz Enterprises, Inc., the developer of Festival Bay, is considering two more anchors for the project. Also tentatively planned is a 157,000-sq.ft. entertainment center called Amazone Entertainment to include a Hawaiian village containing a Kahunaville restaurant and a specialty store called Hilo Hattie.
For more information, contact Belz Enterprises, Inc., 901-767-4780, Fax 901-260-7378.
Gotcha Glacier Proceeds
The 620,000-sq.ft., $130-million “extreme sports” center in Anaheim, California has skated past its critics and is projecting an opening in April 2002. Despite delays, the extreme sports facility will include areas for snowboarding, skiing, skateboarding, surfing, sky-diving and rock-climbing as well as restaurants, a nightclub, a fitness center and shops. The size and complexity of the final design has been cited as an explanation for the delays. Backers are expected to sell bonds to private investors. Approximately $5 million has been spent on design and development, and about 250 people are working full time on the project.
The original plan was to build a covered snowboarding facility for a mere $40 million. Since then, the plan has grown to be described as an “extreme sports” center. The first of its kind, the facility is expected to attract participants in the 12- to 19-year age bracket with three-and-one-half acres of real snow, six stationary wave pools, an NHL-sized ice rink, a skateboard park, a fitness center and the nation’s largest rock-climbing wall.
For more information, contact Glacier of Anaheim LLC at 949-240-0188; Web site: www.glaciersports.com.
Old San Francisco Steak House Expands
The home of the Girl on the Red Swing will open a new location in North Richland Hills, Texas, at the North Hills Mall. The San Antonio-based restaurant, Old San Francisco Steak House, has signed a letter of intent to build a 10,000-sq.ft. facility on a pad site on the north side of the mall. The restaurant chain operates four other locations in Austin, Dallas, Houston and San Antonio, Texas.
For more information, contact Cindy Thompson, North Hills Mall, 817-589-2236, Fax 817-284-9730; Old San Francisco Steak House, 210-341-3189; Web site:
www.osfsteakhouse.com.
Sunrise Mall Announces New Stores
Sunrise Mall, located in Massapequa, New York, added several tenants with the recent opening of Delia’s, a retailer of clothing and accessories for girls and young women from 10 to 24 years of age. Also recently opened is a 4,700-sq.ft. Finish Line. The third opening was a 4,124-sq.ft. Zale’s.
For more information, contact Dorene Frankel, Sunrise Mall, 516-795-3550; Web site:
www.sunrisemall.com.
Bedford, New York Building Sold
Eric S. Goldschmidt, senior partner of Goldschmidt & Associates, brokered the sale of 303-304 Main Street, Bedford, New York. This mixed-use property, consisting of retail stores, offices and some residential units, was purchased by clients of Bleakley Platt & Schmidt, LLP. The seller was represented by Mandel Resnik & Kaiser, PC. Mr. Goldschmidt acted as the sole broker.
For more information, contact Eric S. Goldschmidt, Goldschmidt & Associates, 914-723-1616, Fax 914-723-7720; e-mail: eric@goldschmidtassociates.com; Web site:
www.goldschmidtassociates.com.
New Tenants Announced at Forum
Four new tenants at Phase II of the Forum, a 48,000-sq.ft. section of the 88,000-sq.ft. project located at Cameron Village in Wilmington, North Carolina, are set to open this month. Charlottes Incorporated, a unique gift shop, will open a 2,000-sq.ft. store; Couture, a ladies boutique selling designer clothing, is also opening this month in 1,800 sq.ft.
Also scheduled to open is The Body Forum, a 7,200-sq.ft. women-only health club and spa, which features one-on-one personal training plus a state-of-the-art workout facility. Also opening this month is Provence Ltd., a gift shop specializing in French art, clothing, gifts and furniture with a 1,200 sq.ft. store designed to replicate a typical French boutique.
For more information, contact Alex Thorpe, Swain & Associates, 910-256-2211, Fax 910-256-2171.
Yard House to Open at Irvine Spectrum
ICON Restaurant Group plans to open another Yard House eatery in January 2001, utitilizing 15,200 sq.ft. at the Irvine Spectrum in South Orange County, California. The restaurant, known for its selection of draft beer, will be the third Yard House to open and the second to be located in Orange County. The other two restaurants are located in Long Beach and Costa Mesa. Additional Yard House Restaurants are scheduled to open in Pasadena, Ontario and Emoryville.
For more information, Steve Reynolds, Icon Restaurant Group, 562-437-2337, Ext. 22; e-mail:
steve@yardhouse.com.
Fall Openings at Eastland Mall
Changes are being made at the Eastland Mall, located in Bloomington, Illinois. Pearle Vision and Zale Jewelers will be opening stores in the project. Zale Jewelers will be moving into the space formerly occupied by Page Jewelers. Victoria’s Secret will be expanding into the former Bath & Body space.
For more information, contact Chad Johnson, General Manager, Eastland Mall, 309-633-5361, Fax 309-633-7450.
Cartoon Corner Opens
Arrowhead Towne Center in Glendale, Arizona has two new tenants. The 830-sq.ft. Cartoon Corner offers plush cartoon characters and toys. Also joining the 170 shops in the center is Bailiwicks Soaps & Sundries, a 1,500-sq.ft. retailer selling candles, aromatherapy products and soaps as well as offering classes in candle and soap making.
For more information, contact Victoria T. Lopez, Arrowhead Towne Center, 623-979-7777.
d.e.m.o. Joins Superstition Springs Center
Two new stores, Lundstrom Jewelers and d.e.m.o., recently opened doors at Superstition Springs Center in Mesa, Arizona. Lundstrom, specializing in fine jewelry, occupies 1,063 sq.ft. d.e.m.o. opened in a 2,133-sq.ft. space and specializes in urban styles for day or night for young adults. Superstition Springs Center houses 152 stores and is anchored by Dillards, JCPenney, Mervyn’s, Robinson-May and Sears.
For more information, contact Chris Stallman, Superstition Springs Center, 480-832-0212.
Polo Ralph Lauren Joins Prime Outlet
The Prime Outlet located in Gulfport, Mississippi will be adding Polo Ralph Lauren to its tenant mix. The 8,000-sq.ft. store will take over space formerly occupied by Coleman, who operated a temporary store for camping equipment. The center is also tenanted by Gap and Tommy Hilfiger.
For more information, contact: Mark McCarthy, Prime Outlets, 410-234-1735.
Pennsylvania Welcomes Williams-Sonoma
Aided by Pennsylvania Governor Ridge’s Action Team, Williams-Sonoma, Inc. will be locating its newest call center in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania. A former Giant supermarket will be renovated at the cost of $2 million by the company for its use. Beginning in August, employees will be handling customer service calls for the firm’s catalogues, which include Williams-Sonoma, Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Bed & Bath, Pottery Barn Kids, Hold Everything and Chambers, as well as a e-commerce Web site at
www.williams-sonoma.com.
The Ridge Administration is providing a $300,000 Opportunity Grant to the company. These grants were designed to retain and expand existing businesses while attracting new businesses to Pennsylvania.
For more information, contact Jeff Gingerich of the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, 717-783-1132.
QVC Goes To The Mall
QVC, the TV-shopping giant, is attempting to show off its wares by opening a 500 sq.ft. store at the Mall of America in Minnesota later this month. The new venture is an attempt to acquaint shoppers with a small portion of their wares in person and to develop trust when ordering over the phone or online. The company also operates six outlet stores located in Pennsylvania (3), Delaware (2) and Virginia (1). The QVC mall location is the first of its kind, but more could be opened if this one works out as well as expected. The company already operates a small store located in its corporate complex in West Chester, Pennsylvania.
For more information, contact Dana Maranz, QVC, 610-701-8158.
Hip-Hop Comes to Stockton
Sherwood Mall in Stockton, California is undergoing a tenant-remodeling which will feature Divas, a spin-off of the existing House of Soul retailer, set to open this month. Specializing in hip-hop-influenced clothing and accessories displayed in a store filled with a rap and hip-hop beat, the retailer carries urban-influenced brands including DKNY, Polo and Enyce. The expansion was needed by the demand for a selection of smaller sizes. H.O.S. LLC, the stores’ Davis-based parent company, is opening a House of Soul with a Divas unit adjacent to it in Richmond, while other sites in the Bay Area and Sacramento are of interest for expansion.
For more information, contact Sherwood Mall, 209-952-6277; House of Soul 209-472-7685; Sherwood Mall Web site:
www.sherwoodmall.com.