Development/Redevelopment

Dick’s Sporting Goods is expanding its breadth.   The chain is preparing to open five stores during the second week of March, a move totaling approximately 180,000 sq. ft. of retail space.    Specifically, a new Dick’s Sporting Goods will open in the Glendale area of Queens, New York, in one of the former Sports Authority locations that the company took over late last year. Another Dick’s store will open in Hinesville, Georgia.   

Restaurants are the current darlings of the shopping center developers. It was reported last year that Americans spent more money at bars and restaurants (a total of nearly $55 billion) than they did on groceries. In case you were wondering how big a deal that is, consider this: It was the first time in recorded history that that was the case. But that’s not the only reason that shopping center owners are mad for restaurants. They are also hubs of social activity that contribute to that all-important and often elusive experiential energy.  

Nordstrom Rack announced it would open its first Baltimore store at The Shops at Canton Crossing in spring 2019. It will be part of the center’s 90,000-sq.-ft. Phase II addition, which is expected to begin construction in November.  

In a move that could attract more tech start-ups, New York City will be the home to one of the newest innovation labs.   The 250,000-sq.-ft. “Union Square Tech Hub,” which was announced in December, will include 58,000 sq. ft. of “fluid space” for startups, and a 36,500 sq.-ft. tech training center, reported TechCrunch.   

Nike has brought its experiential retail format to Miami Beach. The company has opened a two-story, digitally connected, 31,000-sq.-ft. store on Lincoln Road, in the heart of Miami Beach.   Similar to Nike’s new store in Manhattan’s SoHo, the Miami location is designed to deliver the best of Nike products and personalized, immersive experiences services through a series of unique spaces. These include zones dedicated to running, soccer and basketball where consumers can try out the brand’s latest products.

The Wendy’s Co. is bullish on expansion.   The chain wants to add approximately 1,000 locations by 2020, reported Nation’s Restaurant News.    

Thomas “TJ” Drought, who spent nearly 20 years in the employ of WP Glimcher, has joined Steiner + Associates as an executive VP.  

Target plans to renovate its downtown Minneapolis flagship, adding an array of new features.   The discounter will invest $10 million in a full-store remodel for the location, which opened in 2001, reported The Journal.     Less ambitious updates are planned for other Target stores in the Twin Cities area.    

DWM Facilities Maintenance has opened a new office in Orlando, Florida. The new office will help facilitate the company’s recent growth.   

Round 1, the retail center amusement concept from Japan, has signed a lease for the vacated Macy’s anchor space at Northwoods Mall in Peoria, Illinois. Washington Prime Group, the mall’s owner, purchased the store from Macy’s last month.   Washington Prime CEO Lou Conforti hailed the singing as an example of a corporate objective to use redevelopment to foster “differentiated tenancy, especially dining and entertainment alternatives.”