business development

From Abandoned Brewery to Piazza, Philly-Style

Philadelphia, PA — When Bart Blatstein, a local strip-mall developer, acquired an abandoned brewery a few miles from Center City nearly a decade ago, the artists who had gravitated to the surrounding area in search of cheap housing feared he would plop an unwanted big-box shopping center into their gritty Northern Liberties neighborhood.

Instead, Mr. Blatstein, the president of Tower Investments, decided to build a public square inspired by the Piazza Navona in Rome, and then the residents worried that he would create a kitschy theme park, said Larry Freedman, the zoning chairman for the Northern Liberties Neighborhood Association. Read more...

Pasco businessman bobbles 'Shark Tank' visit

A Pasco County entrepreneur who sells custom-made bobblehead dolls went in to the "Shark Tank" and emerged without any new investors in his online business.

Trinity resident Jeff Wolsky says the experience was beneficial anyway because of the national exposure and the chance to wheel and deal against the "sharks."

Wolsky appeared on the Tuesday night finale of the ABC reality show but the episode was taped months ago. Read more...

Hair salon owner returns to her business roots

I opened my first small neighborhood salon 20 years ago and also spent eight years working as a national educator for Paul Mitchell Systems, sharing information with beauty professionals all over the country about customer service and retail skills. Today, Dimensional Hair has two locations, inside Star Beauty supply stores in Cleveland Heights and Maple Heights. Read more...

Glendale Mall's new name and look

Indianapolis - Glendale Mall has seen a lot of changes over the years, but owners hope a new look and a new name equals more customers.

The new Glendale Town Center is not a traditional enclosed mall. Owners tore down the inside walls and made it open-air style. This is a trend we're seeing more of in Central Indiana. Owner Kite Realty says busy people want convenience and stores they can get in and out of quickly. Read more...

Liberty Mall developer says it's 'almost finished'

"We're almost finished," Backer said of the more than $6 million renovation project that includes this 89,530-square-foot building and the former Great American supermarket next door. "I'd like to get people in late fall before the winter starts."

But the 27-year old developer said he can't yet answer the question on people's minds.

Who's moving in? Read more...

Nordstrom to expand at Cerritos mall

Cerritos - After years of vacancy, the former Robinson's-May site at Los Cerritos Center will reopen in 2010 as a bigger Nordstrom department store.

"I think it's really going to help out, economically," said Mayor Jim Edwards. "We've had the Robinson's-May empty, and it's going to be a plus to get that new Nordstrom's built." Read more...

The Paradies Shops Wins Ten Year Contract at Indianapolis International Airport

Atlanta - The Paradies Shops—the award-winning concessionaire based in Atlanta—has recently been awarded a 10-year contract to bring exclusive retail stores to the new facilities of Indianapolis International Airport (IND) opening later this year. The new offerings will combine national brands and regionally-inspired concepts. Read more...

Mall progress slows reawakening of Frederick's west end

As downtown Frederick flourishes with shopping and restaurants, the only shopping mall within city limits languishes because of a down-turned economy and a general shift in attitude toward retail centers, officials said.

That split in the local retail market is prompting the owners of Frederick Towne Mall to schedule a major redevelopment to include revamped commercial space with five new stand-alone buildings, a 768-space parking deck, 265 condominiums and 200 adult rental units. Read more...

Tanger store owners ready to see shopping center rebuilt

North Carolina - Leaky roofs, rotting walls and broken air conditioners are just a few of the reasons some tenants at Tanger Outlet Center 1 say the mall needs to come down.

They also say vacant stores, the lack of restaurants and other issues prevent more customers from shopping there. Read more...

Popular Fulton Mall plans expansion

Brooklyn's Fulton Street Mall is a retail powerhouse, drawing 100,000 shoppers a day and bringing in some of the highest rents in the city.

Yet landlords in the venerable shopping district think it could be much more.

When they look to the nearby neighborhoods of Brooklyn Heights, Cobble hill, Boerum Hill and Fort Greene, they see growing affluence and a lucrative demographic.

"The area clearly needs what I'll call more home furnishing stores," said Aaron Malinsky of P/a Associates, which is developing City Point, new retail shops replacing Albee Square at the Fulton Mall.

"Many families are coming to the area," he added. "We want to cater to those people." Read more...