TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 03, 2009
by Illinois Real Estate Journal ReportsChicagoJoseph Freed and Associates LLC, the master developer of downtown Chicago's
Block 37, has announced 13 signed leases for the project, with two pending bank approval.
Still on track to open the project on schedule this month, beginning with the Pedway and including street-level retailers PUMA, Zara, Anthropologie, Steve Madden and Swarovski, Freed continues vigorous leasing efforts to bring the project to full occupancy next year.
The tenants announced today are Sephora, L'Occitane en Provence, Michelle Tan, Claudia Kleiner Malabar Collection (lease pending approval by bank), GNC Live Well, Simply Thalia, Local Charm, Spirit of the City, Accent Chicago, iCandylicious, the Comic Vault, Bleeding Heart Bakery and Alternative Shoes (lease pending approval by bank).
Larry Freed said, "We remain committed to Block 37 and are on track to open this new shopping and entertainment destination for consumers before Thanksgiving and to complete Block 37 by the end of 2010, assuming the bank cooperates on the necessary funding."
The new local tenants include Michelle Tan, a Chicago-based women's fashion designer who will occupy 650 square feet on level 2 of the project. Her shop will present stylish dress and casual wear, handbags and accessories in a variety of price ranges.
Claudia Kleiner Malabar Collection will feature Chicago and European designers as well as exclusive clothing and jewelry lines created by Claudia Kleiner. This 750-square-foot boutique will offer casual and evening looks at affordable prices, as well as shoes, handbags and jewelry.
In 1,300 square feet of Pedway space, Simply Thalia, an established local restauranteur, brings a Pan-Asian sushi, wraps and rolls, French Asian sandwiches and curry dishes for shoppers and Loop workers.
The Comic Vault will feature a wide assortment of comic books, graphic novels, apparel and related gift merchandise in a 300-square-foot location on level 3 of the project. This tenant has another well-established location in Chicago's Ravenswood neighborhood.
The funky, retro-themed Chicago-based Bleeding Heart Bakery will operate a 450-square-foot shop on level 3 of the project and offer artistic food creations made with organic ingredients. The bakery will sell dessert pastries, baked goods, chocolates, cupcakes, sculpted cakes, party favors and other specialty treats.
Locally based Alternatives Shoes will open in 1,500 square feet of space on the first floor of the project. This shop will feature a cutting-edge selection of European-inspired men's and women's shoes, boots and sandals at affordable prices.
With more than 5,200 retail locations nationally, GNC Live Well is the largest global specialty retailer of nutritional products including vitamin, mineral and herbal supplements, sports nutrition, diet and energy products. Located in 1,300 square feet of the Pedway, GNC Live Well also will sell exercise-related accessories.
Local Charm jewelry studios will occupy 1,000 square feet of space on the first floor of Block 37 and will feature the work of over 50 local, national and international artisans who work in a variety of metals and gemstones. This Louisiana-based company has stores in Boston, Las Vegas, Minneapolis and Denver.
On level 3 of the project across from the new Lettuce Entertain You food emporium, two gift stores will cater to Chicago's visitors. Spirit of the City will occupy 3,200 square feet and offer a variety of Chicago-themed merchandise including architectural keepsakes, art, theatre, festival and seasonal gifts, together with Sleepless in Chicago branded nightwear. Accent Chicago will sell licensed sports apparel featuring all major Chicago professional teams as well as souvenirs and novelties in a 1,900-square-foot space.
iCandylicious will be a 1,600-square-foot candy store located on the Pedway level selling a large selection of bulk candy, candy-themed gift baskets and non-food branded gift items.
L'Occitane en Provence, established more than 30 years ago in the south of France, is a world-renown retailer featuring head-to-toe personal care products including traditional French milled soaps, fragrances, cosmetics and lotions as well as top-rated men's grooming toiletries. L'Occitane en Provence will occupy 750 square feet on the first floor of Block 37 and will offer an array of bath, body, and skin care products for both men and women and fragrant items for the home. This will be only their third location in Chicago; the company has shops in 70 countries, with nearly 170 stores in the United States.
Sephora will open a 6,000-square-foot store on the first floor of the project with additional access on State Street. Sephora is a beauty-retail concept founded in France in 1969, and acquired by Paris-based LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton, the world's leading luxury products group in 1997. With over 515 stores in 14 countries worldwide and an expanding base of more than 250 stores across North America, Sephora's Block 37 location will be its first store in Chicago's Loop. It will provide downtown residents, workers, students and visitors with access to over 200 classic and emerging brands across a broad range of product categories including skincare, fragrance, bath and body, smilecare, haircare and Sephora's own private label products.
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