Development/Redevelopment

It’s no secret that today’s consumers have busy lives. And, while online retailers may have the convenience edge, e-commerce simply cannot offer the experience found in physical spaces. Smart mixed-use developers are capitalizing by filling the gap — plugging in a wide range of components, such as entertainment, new-to-market stores, hospitality, residences and offices to make brick-and-mortar far more compelling than a computer experience.

Another iconic U.S. brand has opened its own freestanding store. Ice hockey equipment giant Bauer Hockey, founded in 1927, made its brick-and-mortar debut, in Burlington, Massachusetts. The 20,000-sq.-ft. store, called

Bealls Inc., the 100-year-old privately held operator of over 530 stores, is expanding its retail footprint with a new specialty store format, Bunulu.

Focused on the coastal lifestyle and targeted at outdoor and youth-minded shoppers, the new concept has a more upmarket vibe than Bealls’ other banners. It premiered at Coconut Point Mall in Estero, Florida. Two additional locations — at St. Johns Town Center, Jacksonville, Florida, and The Garden Mall, Palm Beach, Florida — are set to open by the end of this year.

Snellville, Ga. -- Olshan Properties announced two new retail tenants have signed leases at The Shoppes at Webb Gin in Snellville, Georgia. Orangetheory Fitness opened earlier this month and Fuzzy’s Taco Shop announced plans to open in early fall at the center.

Fort Worth, Texas -- Trademark Property Co. is launching a micro-restaurant program dedicated to attracting unique restaurant concepts to Waterside in Fort Worth, Texas.

The retail real industry has experienced its share of changes over the years, but nothing comes close to the transformation that it is currently undergoing. 

As the industry undergoes what the International Council of Shopping Centers calls one of the “most profound transformations” in its 60-year year history, the association has releases its Envision 2020 report, a collaborative initiative that outlines where the industry will be in five years according to leaders from around the globe. 

Nordstrom plans to relocate its Nordstrom Rack store from 280 Metro Center to the redeveloped Serramonte Center in Daly City, California.

The approximately 40,000-sq.ft. store is scheduled to open in fall 2017. The redeveloped property is owned by Equity One.

Nordstrom will join fellow anchors Target, JC Penney, Macy's and Dick's Sporting Goods. The new location is just across Highway 280 from the current Nordstrom Rack.

Englewood Construction has started working on three new ground-up retail projects.

The national general contractor is building a Hobby Lobby in Beavercreek, Ohio; a PetSmart in Taylor, Michigan; and a Goodwill in Monroe, Connecticut.

Englewood recently broke ground on a 55,000-sq.-ft. ground-up Hobby Lobby store in Beavercreek, Ohio. Slated for completion by the end of January 2016, the project will use tilt-up construction of masonry embossed panels. Tulsa, Oklahoma-based Robert Michael Hughes is the project architect.

Teen apparel retailer Hollister will remove the steps from its store entrances following a six-year court battle.

The company, owned by Abercrombie & Fitch Co., has agreed to eliminate the steps that part of the exterior design of many of its stores in order to make the doorways wheelchair accessible, the Associated Press reported. The change is part of a settlement approved by a federal judge.