 |
 |
|
|
|
A definition of the word pioneer is "someone who starts or leads others in the development of something new; an innovator". That definition aptly describes Retail Estate - we thrive best in creative and challenging environments that allow us to best respond to the needs of our various customers (developer, owner, tenant and/or shopper). "Pushing the envelope" in our leasing and merchandising, management and marketing, and development opportunities energizes us. |
||||||||||
|
CocoWalk was the first of a new category of retail centers, the so-called specialty entertainment center. Upon its 1990 debut, it pioneered a novel concept, the "anchor-less" retail center. CocoWalk has been celebrated and studied as the new trend, the prime example of how to bring retailing together in an exciting, animated atmosphere. CocoWalk was such an unequivocal immediate and overwhelming success that it change the retail industry forever. But why was it so successful? Granted, CocoWalk had a lot going for it when it was introduced: a committed developer, a solid demographic base, savvy marketing …. and Retail Estate as the sole merchandising consultant and exclusive leasing agent As retail specialists, our responsibilities went beyond merely "signing up tenants". Much of what made CocoWalk such a phenomenon was a direct result of Retail Estate's hands-on involvement in every phase of the project including design, merchandising and marketing. Our relationships and credibility with national retailers and smaller specialty stores were instrumental in achieving success with CocoWalk. For retailers such as Express, Structure, Banana Republic and Gap to lease space in an unproven concept such as CocoWalk, it required a high level of confidence for them to feel they could be successful in what was then a non-traditional retail project. Achieving this success opened a wide range of opportunities. It all comes
down to this: when Retail Estate believes in a project, we know how to
present the leasing opportunity to tenants so they will understand and
believe in it too…and we know how to manage and market the center
to the public so they accept it as an integral part of their community!
Based on our Cocowalk experience, Easton Town Center represents another vision of a progressive retail environment. Located in the rapid growth area of the Columbus, Ohio Northeast Corridor, it is the commercial and social hub of a master planned community. Offering a blend of specialty retail and outstanding restaurants, combined with entertainment activities presented in a town square format, the Easton Town Center covers over a half million square feet of space. Shopping, theaters, clubs, music and food in a unique and exclusive development draws significant national and regional attention to this award-winning urban leisuretime destination. The grand scale of the project isn't the only feature that keeps it from being easily categorized. It's not a "main street," although the environment is pedestrian friendly. It's not a "mall," although it is a very substantial development. The Easton Town Center is more of a hybrid, a combination of several influences, resulting in a new vision of the retail environment. Retail Estate
is pleased to have been chosen for the Easton Town Center's development
planning team. From the pre-construction planning process to the final
leasing negotiations, our ability to provide creative solutions and unconventional
thinking makes Retail Estate a good match for trend-setting properties
like the Easton Town Center. |
||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||
