eCommerce

For Toys “R” Us chairman and CEO David Brandon, it’s all about having a successful holiday in 2015 — a short-term goal that he believes will pave the way to leveraging longterm opportunities.

Customers show surprisingly little reaction to loyalty programs, but for the upcoming holiday season this could be a good thing for retailers.

The 45-acre Assembly Row in Boston breaks almost all the rules for the traditional model for outlet centers. Just three miles from downtown Boston, Assembly Row is an urban-style mixed-use center with a wide range of outlet retail options alongside entertainment components like LEGOLAND Discovery Center, AMC Theatres and over a dozen restaurants from Legal Sea Foods to Vancouver, B.C.-based Earls Kitchen + Bar.

Outlet malls are often associated with not only appealing deals on name-brand products, but also with driving long distances to get to the far-flung locations where outlets have traditionally been located.

But that is all changing — and changing fast.

Project Owner: Forest City Enterprises

Company HQ: Cleveland

Project Location: Arlington, Virginia

Project Size: Total project is 1 million sq. ft.; Ballston Quarter is 325,000 sq. ft.

Project Status: Opening 2018

Project Website: www.ballstonquarter.com

Company HQ: New York City

Company Website: www.olshanproperties.com

Project Owner: Equus Capital Partners

Exclusive Leasing Agents for Project: Metro Commercial Real Estate (Glenn Marvin and Steve Niggeman)

Metro Commercial HQ: Philadelphia, Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania; and Mt. Laurel, New Jersey

Project Location: Newtown Square, Pennsylvania

Some parts of the country are still waiting for economic recovery, but the Northeast is already enjoying a return to financial prosperity.

The Northeastern U.S. offers a consumer base that is better educated and wealthier than that of many other areas. As a result, vacancies in Northeast centers tend to be low, giving landlords leverage in determining rents and tenant mixes.

RANDOM NOTES: Microsoft made its Manhattan debut with a 22,369-sq.-ft. flagship on Fifth Avenue — its largest location yet. Designed in collaboration with Gensler, the store has a striking, all-glass facade that provides a full view of the contemporary, multi-level interior. High-definition video walls and digital signage are featured throughout the space, streaming video, images and information. A two-story video wall is located behind an “answer desk,” where shoppers can receive assistance and training. ...

There has been a bit of controversy lately regarding Urban Outfitters’ recent request that some of their salaried employees “volunteer” to fill normally hourly roles in fulfillment centers and retail outlets.