Ridgmar — Moving From Mall
to Lifestyle Center
Ridgmar Mall, the largest enclosed retail mall in Fort Worth, Texas, is in the midst of a
$70-million expansion and renovation that will remake the facility into a lifestyle
center. It is changing its name and attempting to change the way people think about malls
as it redefines its shopping areas and adds an 18-screen cinema.
“We’re taking the ‘Mall’ out of Ridgmar to reflect this new
concept,” explains Marc Yassky, president of Shopco Advisory Corp., Ridgmar’s
leasing and management agent. “The new Ridgmar is an exciting destination that will
not only offer a unique shopping experience, but will also offer a multitude of dining and
entertainment venues.”
The new Ridgmar lifestyle center will retain some of the characteristics of a traditional
mall. Dillard’s, Fort Worth’s newest Foley’s, JCPenney, Sears and Tarrant
County’s only Neiman Marcus had put Ridgmar on the map as a premier shopping
location. While the shops are familiar, the new layout and design of Ridgmar will shun
traditional mall decor in favor of an urban cityscape that echoes the style of local civic
buildings. “This new design could change the way people think about shopping,”
says Bonnie Praver, senior vice president of Shopco Advisory Corp.
| “This is not just your run-of-the-mill shopping establishment. It combines retail sales with nostalgia and fun — all under one roof.” MCG Architects created the design that includes a Texas-inspired art deco theme. A collection of districts along the streetscape will be themed to reflect customer interests and merchandise mix. “Creating unique districts of shops is one of the latest trends in retail,” Yassky says. “It allows shoppers to pinpoint shops that interest them or enjoy the varying ambiance of the different districts.” Four new entries to the mall are are themed for each district, with distinctive pylons that support large-scale graphics to identify the district associated with each entry. |
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Neiman Marcus is the focal point of the arts and fashion district, which recreates the ambiance of an upscale shopping boulevard. Lush fountains add to the elegant atmosphere. A town square outside of Foley’s department store also has a fountain set amidst park-style seating and classically inspired balconies and overlooks. JCPenney anchors the kids district, its fountain a playful one with sculptures of turtles setting the tone for fun and surrounding stores selling children’s items. Theme elements in the kids district include a sky mural painted on the ceiling, from which hangs a bi-plane, and an ice-cream cart. The sports district recalls resort and clubhouse architecture. In it is the arena, a high-energy circular court featuring an electric scoreboard and basketball court-inspired paving. |
The $70-million renovation of Ridgmar includes a 78,500-sq.ft. AMC theater being built on
the mall’s rooftop.Sears department store is in the sports area, as are major
sportswear retailers along with a clubhouse, offering cafe seating near Dillard’s
Court.
At the center of Ridgmar, a new 78,500-sq.ft., 18-screen AMC theater is being built on the
mall’s rooftop. Connected to the mall by escalators and an elevator, the new cinema
lobby will overlook an expanded food court and circular center court. Topping off this
dynamic three-story space is a vaulted glass skylight that lets in generous amounts of
Texas sunshine.
“When I first arrived at the site, I immediately saw the potential for something
extraordinary,” says Warren Barnes, project manager for Larrison Construction, Inc.
“Mall renovations can be extremely challenging — especially when a 78,500-sq.ft.
facility is being added to the roof — but this job, in conjunction with the entire
Ridgmar redesign, is very gratifying.”
According to Barnes, some of the challenges posed by this unique project include working
during mall hours and completing the project by fall 2000. Construction crews are
penetrating steel beams through Ridgmar’s roof and into the mall’s foundation.
In addition, steel is being delivered by helicopter or by crane to reach the rooftop
efficiently. Because mall hours are not to be affected by the construction process, crews
must comply with safety issues and noise factors day and night.
In order to install the 60 piers needed to support the theater, several tenants are
relocating throughout the mall, and drilling is beginning in their former spaces. Barnes
expects the first four months of the cinema’s construction to be devoted to drilling
the piers, and by the beginning of next year, shoppers will see the rooftop portion of the
theater emerging.
AMC Ridgmar 18 will feature wall-to-wall screens, stadium-style seating in plush
LoveSeatse with retractable armrests and AMC’s signature cuholders. Patrons may buy
tickets in advance through a call-ahead ticket program and pick up the tickets at an
automated box office, located in Ridgmar. Tickets also may be purchased with credit cards
at the automated box office. On Fridays and Saturdays, AMC Ridgmar 18 will feature
midnight movies.
Renovations at Ridgmar began in November 1998 and when complete, the new lifestyle center
will offer more than 1.3 million sq.ft. of gross leasable area. The mall was acquired in
September 1997 by Shopco 129 Limited Partnership, an affiliate of The Shopco Group, L.P.
Founded in 1969, Shopco is a national real estate development, leasing and management
company headquartered in New York City. Shopco has developed or acquired more than 15
million sq.ft. of shopping centers, as well as residential and office projects.
For more information, contact Shopco Advisory Corp., 817-731-0856, Fax 817-763-5146.