FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Exclusively for the Wichita Business Journal
April 13, 2004
COLDWATER CREEK, CHICO’S,
COMING SOON TO BRADLEY FAIR
(WICHITA, KS) – Bradley Fair shopping center will
soon add two popular national women’s retailers to its fashion offering.
Coldwater Creek (Nasdaq: CWTR), a women’s apparel retailer featuring
jewelry, gifts and accessories, will open a 4,400 sq.-ft. store
in Bradley Fair this summer. Chico’s (NYSE: CHS), a private-label
women’s clothing and accessories retailer, will open a 2,700 sq.-ft.
store, also this summer. The announcement was made today by Cathy
Erickson of Laham Development.
When Coldwater Creek opens in Bradley Fair, the
national women’s retailer will tap into an immediate local customer
base, says David Gunter, the company’s director of corporate communications.
According to Gunter, more than 35,000 Coldwater Creek Internet
and catalog customers live within a 50-mile radius of Bradley Fair.
He also believes the market holds strong potential for new customers
to discover the store’s retail treasures.
It was Coldwater Creek’s strong area customer
base and its push to open in key new markets that prompted Bradley
Fair to pursue the company for a new store location. According
to Erickson, “There are many area women already shopping Coldwater
Creek either by the Internet or by catalog. Having a
retail store at Bradley Fair, where they can touch and try on the
clothing, will enhance their shopping experience. Women who aren’t
familiar with Coldwater Creek are going to love the product.”
The full-line Coldwater Creek store will occupy
a space that will soon become available with the relocation of
Hallmark Creations, moving to a new location within Bradley Fair.
The store’s interior will undergo extensive renovation in order
to echo the look and feel of Coldwater Creek’s distinctive line.
The space will feature slate and soft wood accents, ambient lighting
and a relaxing water feature.
Also locating at the center, in a space formerly
occupied by Howard’s Optique, is Chico’s, a retailer of exclusively
designed, private-label women’s clothing and related accessories.
Chico’s apparel features relaxed styling that’s designed to be
figure-flattering, with a focus on women 35 years and up. The company
selected Bradley Fair after doing a demographic study of the area,
according to Chico’s spokeswoman Lexi Winkles.
Chico’s operates 560 women’s specialty stores
in 45 states, the District of Columbia, the Virgin Islands, and
Puerto Rico. The Chico’s brand, began operations in 1983 and is
based in Fort Myers, FL. Erickson says that the energy and color
of the Chico’s line will bring a new dimension to Bradley Fair’s
women’s apparel offering. “Chico’s will appeal to women who appreciate
both color and comfort in their clothing, with everything from
casual to dressy, for work and everyday.”
To make way for Chico’s and Coldwater Creek, Hallmark
and Howard’s Optique will relocate to Bradley Fair’s new building
located in front of Bed Bath & Beyond.
Hallmark will occupy a 3,600 sq.-ft. space and Howard’s Optique
will occupy 1,100 sq. ft. Howard’s will be open in the new location
by this weekend. Hallmark is projected to open in its new location
by late May. Announcements for the remaining space will be made
at a later date.
A project of Laham Development Company, Bradley Fair opened in November 1990
and has recently added several new stores including Ultimate Electronics,
which opened in October 2003; and Jos. A. Bank menswear retailer,
which opened in February. Openings are planned on April 26 for
Bella Luna Café and May 1 for Backwoods, bringing the total number
of stores and restaurants to 50.
As Wichita’s premier lifestyle center, the 263,000
sq.-ft. Bradley Fair offers a blend of local, regional and national
retail concepts that currently includes eight restaurants and 40
stores. Among the focal points of the center is a scenic open-air
plaza that hosts a variety of community and charitable events and
fireworks displays. The plaza area features a year-round fountain,
two island waterfalls, a lake, extensive landscaping and tiered
seating.
Throughout the summer months Bradley Fair’s plaza
is host to a mix of national, regional and local entertainment
during its annual concerts, presented complimentary to the community.
Soon to enter its fifth season, approximately 25,000 attended the
2003 concerts which featured nine musical events from June through
August. The Celebrate America concert held in conjunction with
the July 4th holiday features a spectacular aerial fireworks display
over Bradley Fair lake.
Project architect for Bradley Fair is Shelden
Architecture. J.P. Weigand & Sons is exclusive leasing agent for Bradley Fair. |
