A bigger Belk
Charlotte, N.C. — Belk has announced a $12.6 million expansion and renovation of its store in Cool Springs Galleria, a 1.1 million-sq.-ft. mall in Franklin, Tenn., a suburb of Nashville. CBL & Associates Properties and TIAA-CREF own the center jointly.
Belk plans to create a new fashion flagship store for the greater Nashville region.
The project features two components. First, Belk will completely renovate its two-level main store. Second, it will construct a new 50,000-sq.-ft. men’s and kids’ store on the first level of the former Sears building at the mall.
Construction of the new men’s and kids’ store will begin in October and finish in March 2015. Belk intends to expand the men’s and kids’ merchandise departments currently located in the two-level main store when the move is made to the new space.
Women’s apparel, shoes, accessories, including handbags and fashion jewelry, and cosmetics will move into the men’s and kids’ space. The move will enable the ladies shoe department to double in size. Belk also plans to increase its selection of top shoe brands and styles in the expanded department. In addition, the store will update and expand the ladies accessories and fashion jewelry areas, adding open display jewelry and cosmetics fixtures to enhance presentations.
Another change will move Belk’s home merchandise departments, now located in two separate shops a the mall, will expand and relocate to an 18,000-sq.-ft. space on the second level of the main store.
All told, the expansion will increase the store’s square footage from 135,000 sq. ft. to 185,000 sq. ft.
“We’re creating the ultimate Belk shopping experience for our customers at CoolSprings Galleria with this expansion and remodel,” said Jan Clevenger, chair, Belk Western Division based in Birmingham, Ala. “The enhancements will feature the latest in retail design, décor and layout and the added space will allow us to greatly increase our merchandise assortments, including many new premium brand offerings for the whole family. All of these improvements combined will make the store one of our premier Belk flagships to serve Franklin and the entire Nashville region.”