pf07-053 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

r ab� � �i � � � Wings. The first phase of the renovation involves repiacing the exterior facade on the west side of the mall, which faces Snelling Avenue, Coles said. The recent closings of the T.J. Maxx and Northwestern Bookstore are part of Emmes' plan to redevelop the south end of the mall, including the building that housed two theaters that closed late last year. Plans call for renovating the former theater complex into space for two retail tenants, Coles said. An optical store between the T.J. Ma�oc and Northwestern Bookstore is still operating, but Coles said his firm plans to talk to the owners about moving elsewhere in the mall. The store's lease expires in October, according to John Anderson, manager of real estate services for National Vision Inc. of Atlanta. The three tenants together have occupied about 40,000 square feet, which Emmes wants to red! evelop i nto space for a single user. The redeveloped space in the mall and the former theater is expected to be ready for occupancy by the middle of next year. Coles said discussions with potential tenants already have taken place and he expects to have agreements with new occupants by the end of this year. Emmes also has plans for two outlying buildings on the Har Mar site, Coles said. The now-closed Backyard Bar & Grill, originally a Ground Round restaurant, will be demolished and rebuilt for a national full-service family restaurant, he said. A Firestone outlet will be converted into space for several small shops and service retail, he said. The renovation at Har Mar comes less than a year after a major redevelopment less than a mile away at Rosedale Center. That $50 million project included a two-story addition on a site once occupied by a Mervyn's department store. The addition was designed as a so-called lifestyle center, the hottest trend in retail development. The project included a 14-screen AMC Theatre that replaced the complex at Har Mar. Har Mar should be able to hold its own, given its prime location on Snelling Avenue, said Mike Sims, vice president of retail at United Properties, which oversees leasing for Har Mar. 'The Roseville trade area is very strong. There are a number of national retailers that want to have a presence in that location," Sims said. Susan Feyder • 612-673-1723 • s�der startribune_com about:blank 7/31/2007