Tenant Update

Kansas City, Kansas — Legends Outlets Kansas City — in Kansas City, Kansas — has announced the addition of three new tenants: Woody’s Automotive, Nail Envy and Bath & Body Works. Each plans to open in this spring.

Woody’s Automotive, a used car concept, will open on May 8 in a 507-sq.-ft. space next to Panera Bread.

Nail Envy, plans to open May 14 in the adjoining shopping center across from Yard House. The salon and spa will occupy a 3,000-sq.-ft. space next to Payless ShoeSource.

New retail space in 2013 was once again heavy on redevelopment, expansion and outlet centers

Year five and, once again, too few square feet in ground-up shopping center construction to rank the “Fastest-Growing Developers” as has been the Chain Store Age tradition for the 20 years prior.

Today, developers seem fated to redevelop and expand existing centers, develop 300,000-sq.-ft. to 600,000-sq.-ft. outlet centers and perhaps add an occasional grocery-anchored infill center.

Dallas — LA Fitness has signed leases for four new spaces, two in Austin, Texas, and two in San Antonio, Texas. Venture Commercial Real Estate represented LA Fitness in each transaction.

In Austin, LA Fitness plans to begin construction immediately on a 40,000-sq.-ft. facility at 2020 Anderson Lane and a 46,200-sq.-ft. facility in the Lamar Oaks Shopping center on Lamar Boulevard. Retail Solutions and The Weitzman Group represented the landlords for the Anderson Lane and Lamar Boulevard locations, respectively.

Glendale, Calif. — The health juice café, Earthbar, has leased a 1,168-sq.-ft. location on the third level of Glendale Galleria. Earthbar offers a range of juices and cleansers, vitamins and supplements, shakes and healthy snacks.

Foothill Ranch, Calif. - The Wet Seal Inc. will begin winding down its Arden B brand. Arden B currently operates 54 mall-based stores and an e-commerce website.

Knoxville, Tenn. — Four new retailers have signed leases with University Commons, a new retail center adjacent to the University of Tennessee campus in Knoxville, Tenn. The property’s developer, CHM, made the announcement.

The newly signed retailers are Fresh To Order, a fast-fine restaurant concept; Blush Boutique, an affordable-fashion concept; Great Clips, the chain’s twentieth Knoxville-area shop; and Jersey Mike’s, the fast casual submarine sandwich franchise.

Philadelphia — Century 21 has signed into The Gallery in Center City Philadelphia. It is the iconic fashion retailer’s first location outside of the New York market, according to the Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust, the owner and manager of The Gallery.

The Wet Seal is winding down its Arden B brand. Arden B currently operates 54 mall-based stores and an e-commerce site. In the fiscal year ended Feb. 1, the brand generated net sales of $60.4 million and represented 11% of consolidated net sales.

“This was a difficult decision that followed a comprehensive review of the business and market dynamics. We would like to thank all of our Arden B team members for their hard work and dedication to the brand, and also extend our gratitude to our loyal customers,” said CEO John D. Goodman.

Seattle – Nordstrom Inc. plans to open a Nordstrom Rack at Winrock Town Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The approximately 33,500-sq.-ft. store is scheduled to open in fall 2015.

The new Nordstrom Rack will be the company's first retail location in New Mexico.

Atlanta -- Boutique accessories and jewelry designer Kendra Scott will add two new Atlanta-area stores – one in Buckhead at The Shops Around Lenox, and the other in Alpharetta, at the Avalon Center.

The Shops Around Lenox store opens April 26, and will feature an interactive Kendra Scott Color Bar, where customers can design and personalize one-of-a-kind jewelry.

The Avalon Center store in Alpharetta is slated to open fall 2014.