Northlake Mall opens today!

GRETA GUEST
Detroit Free Press

Taubman Centers Inc. is to open a glittering 1.1-million-square-foot enclosed mall today in Charlotte, N.C., keeping the Bloomfield Hills-based company on pace with its plan to grow an average of 8% to 10% a year.

Robert Taubman, chairman, CEO and president of the real estate investment trust, has told investors that the company would invest an average of $100 million to $150 million each year in new developments. And Northlake Mall, a $175-million project, puts it over expectations for 2005 and gives some cushion for 2006.

Northlake is to open with 122 stores and restaurants with three major department stores -- Dillard's, Belk and Hecht's -- along with Dick's Sporting Goods and a 14-screen AMC megaplex. It also has a food court and Borders Books and Music.

With open-air lifestyle centers the retail rage of the moment, Taubman shared his enthusiasm Wednesday for the traditional enclosed mall format where it's never too hot or too cold and "where America shops."

"As far as the customer is concerned, the customer is getting all the services they expect to find. The great competitive advantage of the regional mall is convenience," Taubman said. "It starts with the mentality that people can come to a single destination with easy access, easy parking, and can find whatever they are looking for in a secure environment."

Northlake is one of four shopping malls opening this year and the only one by Taubman. Two are in California and one is in Texas. The growth is slowing for regional malls as the country reaches a saturation point and developers look toward new combinations such as open-air centers with upscale tenants and shopping centers with a residential or office component, said Ed Nakfoor, a Birmingham-based retail consultant.

"I think the big regional mall footprint that we were all grown accustomed to -- developers are moving away from that to a degree," Nakfoor said. "I do think that, with department stores consolidating, they have to be more creative in their thinking. Part of it, too, is keeping up with the competition."

Taubman launches its first Looney Tunes-themed children's play area at Northlake, a concept that will spread through the company's other 22 shopping centers in 10 states.

The areas will be 2,000 square feet and let kids play with three-dimensional Looney Tunes characters such as Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck and the Tasmanian Devil. They also will feature sound chips activated by the pressure of little feet and hands so they can hear paint drip from an overturned paint can and other sounds.

Northlake: Shop, play, stay
Long-awaited mall opens today

KAREN CIMINO
The Charlotte Observer

If you feel cozy and inspired to stay a little longer than you’d planned at Northlake Mall today, it’s not an accident.

Northlake officials used design and marketing techniques to encourage you to linger longer and spend more.

Nothing here is unintentional, said Robert Taubman, CEO of the Taubman /Centers, Inc. which built Northlake.

Today is the mall’s grand opening. Here’s some of what you can expect:

In the public spaces
Lots of natural and yellow lighting designed to be more comfy than fluorescent light and make you look better in the clothes you try on.

New store looks
Stores like Gap, Anthropologie and Dillard’s are testing new store prototypes at Northlake. Gap and Anthropologie each have funky new entrance designs. Dillard’s redesigned its lingerie section and created the company’s first 50,000-pair ladies’ shoe department.

Lounge areas
Most malls have cushy seating nowadays. Northlake went a step further, creating pseudo living rooms with couches, coffee tables, soft lighting and cold drinks available near each seating area.

No Excuses
“We have to get home to see the game.” Not true. Head toward a sports lounge with three plasma TVs, bleachers and soft chairs. If that gets old, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Radio Shack and Sports Fan Attic were deliberately located nearby.

Surfing
“I need to check my e-mail.” Sorry, guys. That excuse won’t work either. Northlake has free wireless Internet access for shoppers. Bring your own laptop.

Only locations in N.C.
Include Boloco; BRAVO! Cucina Italiana; Da~Vi Salon; Everything But Water; Fotoquick; Famous Famiglia; John Pauls’ Fine Jewelers; Point A; Rockstar Body Jewelry; Sporting Eyes; The Sweet Spot; Track ’n Trail.

Only locations in Charlotte
Stores only found here include: Bakers; d.e.m.o; DTLR (DownTown Locker Room); Fossil Authentic Brand Jeans; SoHo.

What are the hours?
Northlake opens at 8 a.m. today with a free community breakfast. Stores are open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. Sundays.

Getting There
CROWDS Taubman Centers nc., the mall’s developer, said Wednesday they expect as many as 80,000 shoppers today. Some of its recent mall openings have had 90,000 shoppers.

BUSY TIMES Mall opens at 8 a.m. and stores at 10. Busiest times: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 9 p.m