Page 12 - February 2020

americas news inbrief

FORMER SEARS AT WESTFIELD TOPANGA TO BECOME TROPICAL SMOOTHIE CAFÉ LOOKS

UPSCALE DINING & ENTERTANMENT DISTRICT TO ADD 670 NEW LOCATIONS H&M IS READY TO GROW IN US
Swedish brand H&M is to open its first store
in Central America after signing a franchise
Construction has recently begun on a long-vacant Sears building Tropical Smoothie Café had record growth agreement with Hola Moda. The first store
near Westfield Topanga mall in Warner Center. Paris-based mall in 2019 and it’s nowhere near being finished. will launch in Panama by the end of 2020. A
giant Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield will transform the 160,000sq ft The fast casual chain, known for its privately owned company, Hola Moda operates
former department store into a posh entertainment complex with smoothies and food with a tropical twist, internatilonal fashion brands in 15 countries
an upscale movie theatre, bowling alley and restaurants. opened 124 new sites throughout the US across the region.
The property, designed with three levels of glass and landscaping, last year, ending the year with approximately
will feature a grand entrance for Westfield Topanga, connecting the 830 locations. It has set a goal of having
mall with The Village, across Victory Boulevard, making the area 1,500 cafes open and operating during the WAWA UNVEILS NEW FORMAT
more walkable for visitors. The $250M development that will feature next five years. Last year the brand signed Conveneince store retail Wawa has debuted a
upscale restaurants, lounges and cocktail bars is slated to open to the 213 franchise agreements, with more than new store format in Philadelphia’s Center City.
public in late 2021. 60 per cent of the agreements coming from The store marks the launch of the chain’s first-
“The thing that is really missing there is a significant dining its existing franchisees. ever pick-up window, which allows for speedy
and entertainment district,” said Larry Green, Unibail-Rodamco- “We’re proud to reflect on 2019, service via mobile orders and online orders. At
Westfield’s Executive Vice President for Development. “What we’re recognising it as a record-breaking year for 3,000sq ft, it is half the size of a regular store.
doing is taking down the former Sears store and turning that space Tropical Smoothie Café as we’ve expanded
into a new front door for Topanga.” this year more than any other in our
history,” said Charles Watson, CEO. VALUE RETAILER TO ADD UNITS
New store openings will remain a priority for
NEXT-GEN RETAIL EXPERIENCE Five Below this year. The tween and teen value-
oriented retailer will open 180 new stores in
BOWS AT INDUSTRY CITY 2020, up from roughly 150 locations in fiscal
2019. The expansion for 2020 translates to 20
per cent unit growth.
Shoppers can buy goods that are made story. The Makers Guild gives shoppers the
before their eyes in an innovative new retail opportunity to discover those stories and
concept at Industry City, the sprawling six feel a direct connection to both the product PAYLESS HINTS AT COMEBACK
million square foot mixed-use complex in made in Brooklyn and the real people Payless ShoeSource has emerged from
Brooklyn, New York. bhind those same products,” explained bankruptcy protection with a plan to expand its
Called “The Makers Guild,” the 25,000sq Jim Somoza, Director of Development at global operations. The company has appointed
ft space includes nine artisan-retail shops Industry City. a new management team ans will unveil its
where visitors can both watch - and The new Maker’s Guild is located at 51 strategy to turnaround the business and grow
purchase - specialty products that are being 35th Street (Building 5, 2nd Floor) within again in the US later this year.
made on site. The curated selection includes Industry City, where it is part of the
candles, stationary, greeting cards, African Brooklyn Design District, whose retailers
headwraps, jewellery, ceramics, pottery and include Design Within Reach, abc carpet SPORTING BRAND TO GROW
more. In addition to the permanent shops, & home, RH Outlet, Mitchell Gold + Bob Sportsman’s Warehouse Holdings is expanding
CANADA GOOSE IS TAKING EXPERIENTIAL RETAIL TO NEW HEIGHTS WITH ITS LATEST MULTI-SENSORY CONCEPT STORE THAT IMMERSES SHOPPERS IN THE SPIRIT OF THE OUTDOORS. into a new market. The sporting goods retailer
LOCATED AT CF SHERWAY GARDENS IN TORONTO, THE STORE IS INVENTORY FREE. INSTEAD, SHOPPERS CAN TRY ON PRODUCTS AND ORDER TIMES FOR SAME-DAY HOME DELIVERY. The Makers Guild also features a space for Williams, City Foundry and Porcelonosa.
THE STORE EXPANDS UPON THE BRAND’S SIGNATURE “COLD ROOM”, WHERE CUSTOMERS CAN TRY ON JACKETS UNDER FRIGID CONDITIONS, BY ADDING ANOTHER ELEMENT TO THE rotating pop-ups. Comprised of 16 buildings spanning 35 has announced plans to open three new stores.
EXPERIENCE. WITH THE TEMPERATURE IN THE ROOM SET 10 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT, SHOPPERS ARE SURROUNDED BY REAL SNOW AND FLOOR-TO-CEILING ARCTIC LANDSCAPES. “Products take on greater meaning when acres on the waterfront in Sunset Park, A location will open in Parker, Colorado
you understand how they’re made and Brooklyn, the property’s ownership, led by this month, followed by one in Brentwood,
HUDSON UNVEILS THEIR EATALY IS EXPANDING you see and interact with those doing the Belvedere Capital, Jamestown and Angelo California in August, whilst in October one will
open in Corona, Southern California.
Gordon & Co. is transforming the complex,
creating. The value of a product is found
NEXT-GEN CONCEPT ITS RETAIL FOOTPRINT not just in its quality and use, but in its while cultivating a diverse tenant mix.

The company, which operates more than 1,000 stores in airports, A wildly popular Italian-themed marketplace that combines retail
commuter hubs, landmarks and tourist destinations across North and dining experiences is headed to Silicon Valley. Eataly will open
America, is rolling out a new store concept designed to position it a three-storey, 51,000sq ft location at Westfield Valley Fair in San
for future growth. Jose, California in 2021.
Launching in key markets starting this year as part of a phased Similar to other Eataly outposts, the Silicon Valley emporium
opening, the next generation of Hudson stores will feature digital will feature cafes, restaurants, bars, grocery offerings, educational
displays that allow for localised consumer content controlled experiences and more. To date, the company has opened six
internally by the corporate team. The store model is flexible and can marketplaces in the US, with a seventh due to open in Dallas in PLACEMAKING
be adapted at any time to meet the local needs of airport travellers, 2020. The company also has a location in Toronto. The new Eataly
with interchangeable modular walls for a smooth transition between is part of Westfield’s $1.1bn overhaul of the Valley Fair Mall, which
retail offerings, according to Hudson. will be completed by 2021.
In addition to Hudson’s next-generation atore rollout, the The new Silicon Valley location is part of Eataly’s aggressive
company will also introduce a new mobile application in mid-2020. growth strategy. Eataly opened its first location in 2007, in Turin, explore...
The “Hudson Blue” app will allow travellers to connect with their Italy. It has since expanded to 40 locations across 11 countries, with
Hudson store from their mobile device and gather insights on plans to open in London and Brussels next year. Eataly entered the
products and promotions at any given time. US in 2010 with a location in Manhattan’s Flatiron District.

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