Development/Redevelopment

Swiss watchmaker Breitling opened its boutique at Westfield World Trade Center in New York and promises to make it an all-senses experience for shoppers.  

A new beauty format aimed at men is expanding through franchising.   Hammer & Nails | Grooming Shop for Guys announced it has sold franchise rights for 27 locations in Sacramento, California and in the San Francisco Bay Area, and for 55 franchises in Texas and New Mexico.  

Lululemon Athletica Inc. revealed that it plans to open smaller, “local” stores amid results that disappointed Wall Street.   Net revenue for the quarter ended July 31 increased 14% to $514.5 million, just shy of projections, from $453.0 million in the year ago period. Total comparable sales rose 4%, with in-store sales up 3% and direct to consumer sales up 6%.   Net income increased 12.5% to $53.6 million.  

It was already generating $700 per square foot in revenue, but Broadway Plaza in San Francisco’s East Bay got a complete makeover from owner Macerich that was unveiled last week. Fireworks and a performance by Mark McGrath of Sugar Ray accompanied the ribbon-cutting.   Gross leasing area was expanded to beyond 900,000 sq. ft. and more than 50 new stores inhabit the open-air center that debuted in 1951. Nordstrom, Neiman-Marcus, and Macy’s anchor the plaza that Macerich has owned for the last 30 years.  

To uphold its reputation of providing the fastest possible delivery to its shoppers, Amazon is preparing to open a new fulfillment center in Monee, Ill. This is the third warehouse planned for the suburbs of Chicago.   The 850,000-plus-sq.-ft. facility will facilitate the picking, packing and shipping of small items, such as books, electronics and consumer goods.  

Mexico City-based developer Grupo GICSA announced plans for 14 new experiential retail centers it will format under the trademarked term, “Mallterntainment.” GICSA is perhaps best known as the developer of the Paseo Arcos Bosques retail center in Mexico City (above).   Malltertainment developments will hew to four pillars, according to GICSA:   • Average area of 2 million sq. ft.;  

Department store retailer Belk is giving its Crown & Ivy private-label brand its very own freestanding location.    The brand, which Belk launched in in 2014, will open a store at Crabtree Valley Mall, Raleigh, North Carolina, according to a report by the Charlotte Observer.    Crown & Ivy offers preppy-styled apparel for women. 

Gander Mountain is making its first foray into the Philadelphia area.   The retailer will open a 52,700-sq.-ft. store at the Warrington Crossing development in Warrington, Pa., on Sept. 8. It will be the 12th Gander Mountain location in Pennsylvania.