gmariam

Kroger will be breaking ground for the new store next Mon. on Oct. 1st.

Harvest Foods is closing this Saturday. They are clearing their shelves. I have been told Wal-Mart has purchased it. Also word has it that Walgreens is looking at the (soon to be) old Kroger site.

from Arkansas Business: Aerie from American Eagle Outfitters is coming soon to Park Plaza, per the property owner.

Found this on southeastrebusiness.com........ SOUTHEAST RETAIL LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS Demand for retail exceeds supply in Little Rock as the overall retail climate is healthy, strong and in a growth phase. Little Rock is seeing local investors, broadening portfolios, fewer big box retailers, repositioning within the market and growing interest from national tenants and restaurants. Just like cities that are larger in size than Little Rock, it is experiencing the development of several mixed-use and lifestyle retail projects ranging in size from 300,000 to 800,000 square feet.

A site selecting committee choose to reccomend that the Board of the Pulaski County School District build the High School replacing Oak Grove, on about 94 acres in Maumelle off of Carnahan Rd. in the industrial park. Near the Middle school. The decision came down to 3 sites and then finally with an analysis done by an architectural and engineering firm. It was the least expensive choice to build on. If you all remember the donated land - this isn't it.

I have also read on the AR Times website that these tenants have also been "penciled in": Ethan Allen Bravo - an Italian restuarant chain? - http://www.bestitalianusa.com/ Select Comfort Claire

Starbuck's is opening Friday. And if it wasn't known, we are getting a Taco Bueno and an Arby's.

Come One, Come All to New Wine-and-Cheese Bar By Arkansas Business Staff 1/8/2007 Whispers previously broke the news that Crush, a wine and cheese bar, would be moving into Block 2 downtown, where a Firehouse Subs used to be. But our information about it

There was an article in the Dem. gaz. today about Shackleford crossing... "Wal-Mart Stores Inc. confirmed Tuesday that it will relocate its west Little Rock store to Shackleford Crossing under construction at Interstate 430 and Shackleford Road. Spokesman Laurie Smalling said the company plans to open a Supercenter in 2008, after which it would demolish the Wal-Mart at 700 S. Bowman Road and construct a Neighborhood Market, Wal-Mart

I was at the Grand re-opening of Park Plaza today. At the ribbon cutting cermony the announcement was unfortunately one that was pretty much all ready reported here. They announced that the new retailer was going to be "XXI" (I think leaving off the forever). He said it will be ~25,000 (about the size of all the Gap stores) and it will open in the fall of next year. I went out to Forever 21 and found this...... " What is the difference between Forever 21 and Forever XXI? Forever 21 offers the latest fashions at a great value to our customers. Thanks to the popularity of Forever 21, not only with young shoppers but also shoppers who are young at heart, Forever 21 has been able to create it's flagship stores, Fovever XXI, which occupy an average of 24,000 sq. ft. per store. Offering an exciting and spacious shopping enviroment with a variety of merchandise, Forever XXI embraces everyone who wants the latest styles at a great value." Then it provides this link "to get a preview of this exciting new shopping experience." Forever XXI

They are finally getting started on the Starbucks site.

I read this on AR Bus. today. It's more on the Village at Hendrix. ".......The vote was the final item of approval Hendrix needed from the council before embarking on its 10-year, $85 million project across Harkrider Street. Dubbed

Does anybody know what they are going to do with the old Luby's?

Harold's is supposed to open Fri. Oct. 27th.

I was driving down Chenal the other day and noticed that they are clearing a road directly across from Rahling. I know this was supposed to be one end of the road that surrounds the Promenade at Chenal. I didn't see any clearing of the acrage though. Does anyone know if this finnally getting started?

There was an article yesterday saying that the plans for the new Kroger got city approval. It will be 83,000 sq. ft. (compared to the 32,000 sq ft. Kroger we have now) and will be located on 11.5 of the 39 acres. (it's to be located at the corner of Odom S. and Club Manor)

I don't know if the maumelle market could become saturated considering we only have so much land to build on. It could top off in coming years unless we annex more land. I think, at the moment, the market is a bit saturated with new homes since the rates went up. (people more hesitant to buy) Builders are being stuck with inventory. I know of new homes that have been on the market six months. Housing starts have slowed, and once builders sell their current homes it will level off. I would say right now it's a bit more of a buyers market in Maumelle. But, that's just my opinion.

The land you're seeing being moved is for a New Life church.

It will be located near Crystal Hill and Maumelle Blvd.(where the new Ffirst Security is), but across the blvd. in the acreage behind and to the left of Suds Car Wash. I've heard rumor that the want to buy out Blvd. Wine for an entrance.

Does anyone know how they are going to make the unused theatre space accessible? I was down in the food court looking around the area where it used to be a few days ago. I noticed that they had completed the tile, straight up to the wall (the one with the broadway play signs). Early on I just assumed that's where access would be.

Here is a follow up on their trip to IN from the Gazette. City officials call on mall manager to aid turnaround LR site focus of lawsuit, revitalization ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE Little Rock officials met Monday with the Indianapolis-based manager of University Mall over the facility's role in the area's redevelopment. The mall, managed by Simon Property Group Inc., has seen tenants leave and conditions deteriorate while the rest of the city's midtown area has become the focus of revitalization. The owners of the 27 acres on which University Mall sits have sued Simon Property over what they say is its poor condition. Much of the midtown redevelopment

A Segment on University Mall aired tonight on KARK. here's what they had on their website. City Leaders Meet about University Mall ( Air Date: 8/13/2006 ) Little Rock city leaders are headed out of state to meet with the managers of University Mall to send a simple message...the shopping center run by Simon Properties is an important piece of real estate to the capitol city. Monday morning Mayor Jim Dailey along with the city director and manager will head to Indianapolis to meet with Simon Properties. "The property anyone would describe as underperforming - it has been for many years," explains Little Rock city director, Stacy Hurst. After several discussions with the property owners of University Mall, Little Rock city leaders want to meet with Simon Properties, the company who manages this mall. The owners of this property are in an ongoing lawsuit with Simon Properties over the management of the mall, so city leaders hope to find a positive resolution to the disagreement and remind simon properties that University Mall is a critical piece of real estate in mid-town. At the same time, city leaders want to know Simon Properties plans for this shopping destination and work together to boost University Mall's image. While in Indiana they hope to meet with several Simon executives and discuss the future of university mall. "Simon definately has the resources to bring in great retailers. Whether or not they want to revitalize in terms of retail - I don't know - there's any number of scenerios that could be a positive outcome," adds Hurst. Some of those scenorios included a mixed use facility such as possible residential space or maybe even a major cinema, but whether those ideas become reality depend on the meeting in Indiana Monday.

This is a bit off topic, but has anyone heard of Blue Coast Burrito? Apparently there is one on McCain in NLR. (I'm guessing next to the Wal-mart, I haven't been there in a while) I went to their website and they have West Little Rock listed as Coming Soon. Anyone have any idea where it's supposed to go?

About 6 months ago there was a company (don't remember the name) that was looking to buy the police station/fire station when they were thinking of relocating. Since the stations are located on the corner of, arguably, the busiest intersection in Maumelle, it's prime real estate. Maybe that company would now go after the Kroger property on the opposite side of the intersection.

This was posted on ARKANSASBUSINESS.COM today...... Little Rock