No. 5: Retail sector evolves in 2006

Branson to Battlefield Mall

Branson Landing came first, opening on the share of Lake Taneycomo May 26 with nearly 50 shops and restaurants, including a 40,000-square-foot Bass Pro Shops store and the 68,000-square-foot Belk department store. HCW Development Co.’s $420 million retail district drew more than 1 million visitors in its first six months.

Tenants continued to sign on through the summer and fall, with 91 shops open before the Thanksgiving Day kickoff of the holiday shopping season.

Joe’s Crab Shack opened at the Landing in August, while Cantina Laredo and Sullivan’s Steakhouse both started business in mid-November.

In October, Gage Properties of Hollister secured a long-term agreement with HCW to bring a marina and dinner boats to the district. The $6 million project is tentatively scheduled for completion in spring 2007.

Other new Landing players planned for 2007 include Bass Pro’s floating restaurant, White River Fish Co.; Bar Louie; and Wedding Italiano.

While Branson was busy keeping up with the Landing ¬– which helped the city reach 95 percent retail occupancy this year – Springfield was making its own retail news.

Battlefield Mall, 2825 S. Glenstone Ave., announced in February that it would spend the year renovating its interior and constructing lifestyle center stores along the east side.

In September, Federated Department Stores Inc. transitioned its Famous Barr Stores – including the one at Battlefield Mall – into Macy’s. Retailers Banana Republic and White House Black Market debuted in a grand opening celebration in mid-November, as did J.Buck’s Restaurant, with exterior entrances. Inside, mall owner Simon Property Group added new ceiling treatments, flooring in earth tones, expanded restrooms, new signage and more short-term leasing kiosks.

Mall officials would not disclose a cost for the project.

Christine Moses, the mall’s marketing manager, said a number of new stores are planned for 2007 but would not provide names.

Regional draw

Branson Landing Director of Marketing Linda Antus told Springfield Business Journal in November that the Landing already is drawing shoppers from large cities, such as Dallas and Chicago. And Battlefield Mall, according to Moses, draws in shoppers from an approximately 90-mile radius, including West Plains, northern Arkansas and Rolla. Southwest Missouri’s reputation as a shopping hub seems to be spreading, Moses said.

“We’re catering more, with the new stores that we have, to a higher-income (market) that’s here in Springfield that otherwise would travel to a larger city,” Moses said, adding that such activity doesn’t mean other shoppers are excluded. “We are the third-largest city in Missouri, and … some of the businesses are going to compete as such.”[[In-content Ad]]