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Shopping Centers Today -> June 2001
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San Francisco commission approves Mills/YMCA project In a surprise decision, the San Francisco Port Commission in mid-April awarded The Mills Corp., Arlington, Va., exclusive negotiating rights to develop 19 acres of waterfront piers on San Francisco Bay. Indications before the vote were that the commission would support a competing bid by Chelsea Piers, New York City. The Mills Corp., in a partnership with the YMCA of San Francisco, is planning to develop a $200 million 900,000-square-foot mixed-use project featuring a 300,000-square-foot YMCA recreational center. The project will contain 150,000 square feet of retail and dining space and a 450,000-square-foot plaza leading to the bay.
Prada flagships to roll out in four cities With help from two of the world’s most prestigious architectural firms — Rem Koolhaas and his OMA/AMO studio and the team of Jacques Herzon & Pierre de Meuron — luxury apparel retailer Prada is close to opening five new flagship stores in New York City, San Francisco, Beverly Hills and Tokyo. The stores, ranging from 20,000 square feet to 43,000 square feet, will be entertainment centers of sorts. The first of the stores, a 23,000-square-foot unit, will open in September in the Soho section of Manhattan. The store’s shoe racks at night will serve as seating for a small amphitheater. The changing rooms at all stores will contain computers enabling shoppers to check what sizes and colors are available and in stock, for any item.
Borders turns Web site over to Amazon Borders Group, Ann Arbor, Mich., will relaunch its Borders.com Web site as a co-branded initiative with Amazon.com. The new site, which will sell books, music, video and DVDs, will debut in August as part of Amazon.com’s Web site. Amazon.com’s own book, music, video and DVD selling operation will continue to function independently. The Borders name will be used and shoppers will be able to find store locations and promotional events through the site.
Gap’s Old Navy sails into Canada Gap Inc. quietly rolled out its first Old Navy stores outside the United States in April, holding grand openings at 12 locations in Ontario, Canada. The stores, ranging in size from 20,000 square feet to 26,000 square feet, are all located in the province. These are Old Navy’s first international stores. This was also the first time that Gap has opened multiple Old Navy locations on one day. Benetton tests ’megastore’ at Simon’s Mall of Georgia Specialty retailer United Colors of Benetton has opened its first "megastore" in the United States at Simon Property Group’s Mall of Georgia. The new store, at about 12,000 square feet, is much larger than typical Benettons, which run about 1,000 square feet. The retailer plans to open nine other U.S. megastores this year. The megastores will carry the standard Benetton assortment of clothing for men, women and children in addition to accessories, cosmetics and underwear.
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