516 replies to this topic

[Aporkalypse]

skirby, on Feb 6 2006, 08:42 AM, said:

Some of the tenents listed for the center are: Pottery Barn, William Sonoma, White House Black Market, Chicos, Ann Taylor Lofts, Jos. A Banks, Pier I, Pei Wei and Cantina Laredo.

My wife and  I really like Pei Wei.  It's informal so you can go there with your kid but the food's high quality and reasonably priced.  They have a good selection of a variety of different Asian foods.  I like that pad thai.  Cantina Laredo is nice but pricy.

[Architect]

Aporkalypse, on Feb 6 2006, 08:50 AM, said:

My wife and  I really like Pei Wei.  It's informal so you can go there with your kid but the food's high quality and reasonably priced.  They have a good selection of a variety of different Asian foods.  I like that pad thai.  Cantina Laredo is nice but pricy.

Pei Wei is basically confirmed.  My wife and family were eating at P.F. Changs on Saturday, and I pulled a manager aside to ask if they were putting any Pei Wei diners in town.  Without me leading the person on, they said "...one will be opening at a new shopping center across from the mall..."

Cool.

[turboturtle]

I've been able to confirm all the tenants for the Midtowne Center mentioned in this forum, except Cantina Laredo, Pier 1, Williams-Sonoma, Pottery Barn and Wild Oats independent of this forum.  Restoration Hardware is also a speculative tenant.  

Across the street...

Progress on the University Mall is stalled.  The potential for redevelopment is tied to a lawsuit.  The conclusion of the lawsuit should bring to a head a battle between the property owners and Simon Properties.  Unfortunately, the lawsuit is delayed because of the Judge.  I heard it is because the Judge is ill. Can anyone confirm this?  It seems like this will put a resolution for the University Mall site on hold for several years.  My guess is that JC Penney and most of the other tenants will be long gone before the lawsuit is complete.  

When the re-purposing of the University Mall site does unfold, the post-Mall entity to control that piece of property should be fortunate.  I am guessing the site will be converted to Medical Offices and/or related facilities.  In the past there has been interest in a mega-Movie theater.  Now that the movie industry is in decline, it is hard to see this happening.

[Architect]

turboturtle, on Feb 13 2006, 09:50 AM, said:

I've been able to confirm all the tenants for the Midtowne Center mentioned in this forum, except Cantina Laredo, Pier 1, Williams-Sonoma, Pottery Barn and Wild Oats independent of this forum.  Restoration Hardware is also a speculative tenant.  

Across the street...

Progress on the University Mall is stalled.  The potential for redevelopment is tied to a lawsuit.  The conclusion of the lawsuit should bring to a head a battle between the property owners and Simon Properties.  Unfortunately, the lawsuit is delayed because of the Judge.  I heard it is because the Judge is ill. Can anyone confirm this?  It seems like this will put a resolution for the University Mall site on hold for several years.  My guess is that JC Penney and most of the other tenants will be long gone before the lawsuit is complete.  

When the re-purposing of the University Mall site does unfold, the post-Mall entity to control that piece of property should be fortunate.  I am guessing the site will be converted to Medical Offices and/or related facilities.  In the past there has been interest in a mega-Movie theater.  Now that the movie industry is in decline, it is hard to see this happening.

TurboTurtle,

So you are saying that you have confirmed everyone EXCEPT Cantina Laredo, Pier 1, Williams-Sonoma, Pottery Barn, Wild Oats & Restoration Hardware?  Isn't that pretty much all of the tenants expected?  Which ones have you confirmed?

[turboturtle]

I found a site via google (www.healthyarkansas.com/eng/planreview/PLUMB/Pulaski.htm) that referenced plumbing being done for the following entities at the Midtowne Center, White House Black Market, Chicos, Ann Taylor Lofts, Jos. A Banks.  I consider it independent confirmation of a tenant coming to the site.  No other tenants were mention by name.  There is one tenant location that requires a grease trap.  I have no reason to believe that the ones I mentioned previously are not going to be tenants at the site.  

The entire development is supposed to house somewhere around 30 tenants.  There is ample room for more speculation about tenants, like a coffee shop.

[skirby]

skirby, on Feb 6 2006, 08:42 AM, said:

Some of the tenents listed for the center are: Pottery Barn, William Sonoma, White House Black Market, Chicos, Ann Taylor Lofts, Jos. A Banks, Pier I, Pei Wei and Cantina Laredo.

Some of the above tenents were listed on Moses Tucker's website and the others on the website of  United Commercial Realty of Dallas. A local store will be opening up this fall in the center by the name of Impulse.

[Architect]

turboturtle, on Feb 13 2006, 12:40 PM, said:

I found a site via google (www.healthyarkansas.com/eng/planreview/PLUMB/Pulaski.htm) that referenced plumbing being done for the following entities at the Midtowne Center, White House Black Market, Chicos, Ann Taylor Lofts, Jos. A Banks.  I consider it independent confirmation of a tenant coming to the site.  No other tenants were mention by name.  There is one tenant location that requires a grease trap.  I have no reason to believe that the ones I mentioned previously are not going to be tenants at the site.  

The entire development is supposed to house somewhere around 30 tenants.  There is ample room for more speculation about tenants, like a coffee shop.

Guess what.  This site now lists Williams-Sonoma!  I'm an architect (imagine that), and am very familiar with the plumbing review process, and it never occurred to me to check this as a resource for upcoming retailers.  Of course, this is a "relatively" new concept of this information being so readily available over the web.

[nandle]

You all found  my secret stash, damn! I check that website daily and actually came to post that Williams Sonoma submitted plans today. All the stores mentioned' above have submitted plumbing plans for Midtown specifically, so there is no question these tenants are tenants....corporations don't complete construction documents until leases are signed.

Wild Oats is definite- I know a design firm working on it, although they wouldn't confirm exact location. However the manager admitted it when I asked her, well told her I knew about it, and as I posted here before, they want to bring it up to national standards.

I know someone here debated that issue but if you have ever been to other locations, everything from the graphics to the merchandise mix is not up to the level of the other stores. It might have the square footage, but that doesn't mean much in regards to how the place functions. I worked for Whole Foods for a number of years, and it is a world of difference between that and Wild Oats in WLR. Most new store layout and designs are more like a traditional grocery stores and less like health food stores. Check out this link and see what I mean.

http://www.wildoats.com/u/find/

Edited by nandle, 13 February 2006 - 10:45 PM.

[turboturtle]

Now the plumbing review site is out there for all of us to monitor.  Lets hope it stays that way.

[Architect]

nandle, on Feb 13 2006, 10:40 PM, said:

You all found  my secret stash, damn! I check that website daily and actually came to post that Williams Sonoma submitted plans today. All the stores mentioned' above have submitted plumbing plans for Midtown specifically, so there is no question these tenants are tenants....corporations don't complete construction documents until leases are signed.

Wild Oats is definite- I know a design firm working on it, although they wouldn't confirm exact location. However the manager admitted it when I asked her, well told her I knew about it, and as I posted here before, they want to bring it up to national standards.

I know someone here debated that issue but if you have ever been to other locations, everything from the graphics to the merchandise mix is not up to the level of the other stores. It might have the square footage, but that doesn't mean much in regards to how the place functions. I worked for Whole Foods for a number of years, and it is a world of difference between that and Wild Oats in WLR. Most new store layout and designs are more like a traditional grocery stores and less like health food stores. Check out this link and see what I mean.

http://www.wildoats.com/u/find/

Nandle,

So you did find confirmation on the State Health plumbing review site for Pottery Barn, Restoration Hardware, etc?

turboturtle, on Feb 13 2006, 11:04 PM, said:

Now the plumbing review site is out there for all of us to monitor.  Lets hope it stays that way.

This is all public record, so no, this resource shouldn't be retracted.

[Architect]

What about an Apple Store?  Surely LR is in their sights now that they've moved into similar markets, such as Des Moines (which is in fact slightly smaller).  This type of urban development is fairly typical of their locations.  Any word on this?

[johnnydr87]

An Apple Store would be AWSOME.  I have always wished for one.  Right now, we have a SINGLE comp USA for apple needs. Its pathetic, and I just buy online.

You can't really use Apple for CAD, can you?

[Aporkalypse]

Architect, on Feb 15 2006, 11:23 PM, said:

What about an Apple Store?  Surely LR is in their sights now that they've moved into similar markets, such as Des Moines (which is in fact slightly smaller).  This type of urban development is fairly typical of their locations.  Any word on this?

Bizarrely, Des Moines also has a Cheesecake Factory.  I'd love to see one in Little Rock.  Any redevelopment of University Mall might provide an ideal site.

[johnnydr87]

Iowa's pretty impressive for its size.   They're the headquarters of the ACT assessment and various other educational assocations.  They have some of the best colleges.  All this in a state the size of Arkansas.

Edited by johnnydr87, 16 February 2006 - 03:25 PM.

[CentralArkansas]

Aporkalypse, on Feb 16 2006, 02:33 PM, said:

Bizarrely, Des Moines also has a Cheesecake Factory.  I'd love to see one in Little Rock.  Any redevelopment of University Mall might provide an ideal site.

I would think the Rivermarket area would be an ideal site for a Cheesecake Factory.

I would love to get a late dinner there and walk to the bars. That would be a great night.

[Aporkalypse]

CentralArkansas, on Feb 16 2006, 03:48 PM, said:

I would think the Rivermarket area would be an ideal site for a Cheesecake Factory.

I would love to get a late dinner there and walk to the bars. That would be a great night.

It could be but they usually like to build into some sort of large retail complex.  To be honest, if I had to pick a site right now I think the development in Dark Hollow where Bass Pro should be going in would be the best bet.  I kind of think a large, modern upscale mixed usedevelopment where University Mall stands now would do well, though.

[CentralArkansas]

Aporkalypse, on Feb 16 2006, 03:50 PM, said:

It could be but they usually like to build into some sort of large retail complex.  To be honest, if I had to pick a site right now I think the development in Dark Hollow where Bass Pro should be going in would be the best bet.  I kind of think a large, modern upscale mixed usedevelopment where University Mall stands now would do well, though.

Now that I think about it you are exactly right. I hadn't noticed that about Cheesecake Factories, but I can't ever remember eating in one that wasn't in some type of mall.

And you are right, Dark Hollow would be a great place for it.

[Architect]

johnnydr87, on Feb 16 2006, 03:25 PM, said:

Iowa's pretty impressive for its size.   They're the headquarters of the ACT assessment and various other educational assocations.  They have some of the best colleges.  All this in a state the size of Arkansas.

My mother-in-law is from Iowa, and I've always been very impressed with how beautiful it is.  If I'm not mistaken, Iowa has the highest literacy rate in the country.  Des Moines is very urban and sophisticated for its size.  The skyline has to be on of the most impressive per capita.  Though the metropolitan area is shy 100,000 from Little Rock, its downtown houses 50% more people (60,000 versus 40,000 in LR) during the work day.  As such, it still has an active working shopping area with dept. stores, etc.  Its just a real, working downtown that doesn't appear to ever have really gone awry.  As such, there isn't really any "kitschy" new development/districts like the River Market.  It just works all around.  Very nice indeed.

But back to the point....all of the great new retail in Des Moines is strictly due to one massive development in West Des Moines.  Unlike Little Rock, ONE MAJOR new development took place, which gravitated all new retailers to a common point.  This is REALLY hurting LR - the many fractured, competing centers - though it does now appear that Midtowne is clearly getting the high-end, which is GREAT for solidifying mid-town.

Edited by Architect, 16 February 2006 - 09:27 PM.

[Architect]

johnnydr87, on Feb 16 2006, 01:59 AM, said:

You can't really use Apple for CAD, can you?

Au contraire my friend.  The Mac is a great CAD system.  One must not assume that the most 'popular' cad system "AutoCAD" is the only system, and certainly not the best.

We have 18 stations of PowerCADD, which is arguably the best 2D drafting software on the planet.  Both ArchiCAD and VectorWorks are still very much active on the Mac platform, and in fact both started on the Mac.  We also use ArchiCAD for some specific applications, though it is an entirely different animal - most similar (but preceding) AutoCAD's Revit.

[Mith242]

Architect, on Feb 16 2006, 09:26 PM, said:

My mother-in-law is from Iowa, and I've always been very impressed with how beautiful it is.  If I'm not mistaken, Iowa has the highest literacy rate in the country.  Des Moines is very urban and sophisticated for its size.  The skyline has to be on of the most impressive per capita.  Though the metropolitan area is shy 100,000 from Little Rock, its downtown houses 50% more people (60,000 versus 40,000 in LR) during the work day.  As such, it still has an active working shopping area with dept. stores, etc.  Its just a real, working downtown that doesn't appear to ever have really gone awry.  As such, there isn't really any "kitschy" new development/districts like the River Market.  It just works all around.  Very nice indeed.

But back to the point....all of the great new retail in Des Moines is strictly due to one massive development in West Des Moines.  Unlike Little Rock, ONE MAJOR new development took place, which gravitated all new retailers to a common point.  This is REALLY hurting LR - the many fractured, competing centers - though it does now appear that Midtowne is clearly getting the high-end, which is GREAT for solidifying mid-town.

Yeah I've heard things about Des Moines.  I've wondered if it's also a bigger draw around the whole state compared to Little Rock.  Not trying to say anything bad about Iowa but is there many other places around the state in general to draw people?