Retailer signs on for lifestyle space at mall

The store filed a building permit with the city of Springfield the week of July 17, calling for a $165,000 “tenant finish.”

The store is expected to open this fall, said Kimberly Terry, Banana Republic spokeswoman. It will have an exterior entrance along the mall’s east-facing wing and will be one of a number of outdoor stores that are part of a multimillion-dollar renovation that began in February.

Mall officials have been tight-lipped about tenants who have signed on for the center. Only one tenant – J. Buck’s Restaurant – has been confirmed by the mall. A mall representative could not be reached for comment.

Banana Republic is a division of Gap Inc., which closed a Gap store at Battlefield Mall in January. Terry said the decision to replace it with a Banana Republic was made because it offers a wider range of merchandise than Gap.

Terry did not disclose the square footage of the Springfield store.