Nordstrom opening department store at Mayfair mall by 2015

Land and Space

Journal Sentinel business reporter Tom Daykin talks about commercial real estate and development.

Nov. 29, 2012
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By Tom Daykin of the Journal Sentinel

Nov. 29, 2012 0

Nordstrom Inc. will open its first full-line Wisconsin department store at Wauwatosa's Mayfair mall in fall 2015.

The Seattle-based company announced Thursday plans to open a 140,000-square-foot, three-level store. It will be on the mall's east side, between Boston Store and Mayfair's six-story attached office building.

"We've heard from customers in the Milwaukee area for years that they would appreciate a store in their community," said Erik Nordstrom, company stores president, in a statement. "We're glad we have an opportunity to serve our customers, as well as those new to Nordstrom, in such a strong location as Mayfair."

Mayfair, owned by Chicago-based General Growth Properties Inc., has more than 160 stores and restaurants. Nordstrom would be the mall's third department store anchor, joining Boston Store and Macy's.

"GGP is a terrific partner for us," Nordstrom said. "They operate great shopping destinations with a quality tenant mix. That's important to us in terms of giving customers a reason to shop at one particular location over another."

Nordstrom’s “reputation, quality merchandise and exceptional customer service complements GGP's retail strategy," said Sandeep Mathrani, General Growth chief executive officer. "We're excited to provide shoppers with yet another sought-after retail option at Mayfair."

The development will likely include a new two-level parking structure at Mayfair to serve the mall's customers, sources said. The parking structure would be built immediately east of the Boston Store, with the Nordstrom store built north of the parking structure and south of the mall's attached office building.

The Nordstrom department store will be within a short drive of a Nordstrom Rack, which sells lower-priced clothing. It will be the first Nordstrom Rack in Wisconsin.

Nordstrom Rack will be an anchor at The Mayfair Collection, a new retail center that Chicago-based HSA Commercial Real Estate Inc. plans to have open by summer of 2014.

HSA plans to begin construction next spring on the Mayfair Collection. In the project's 23-acre first phase, HSA plans to demolish part of the former Roundy's warehouse complex just east of Highway 45, north of Burleigh St., and create 270,330 square feet of retail space split between renovated warehouse space and new buildings.

The Wauwatosa Common Council recently approved a proposal to provide up to $8.5 million in city funds to help develop the Mayfair Collection. Some of the funds would be spent on demolition, new streets and water mains, an environmental cleanup and burying of utility lines, along with a forgivable loan to HSA.

The estimated value of the project's first phase is $46.6 million.

The surprise announcement also raises questions about the impact on other retail developments, including The Corners, a Von Maur-anchored shopping center which Marcus Corp. hopes to develop in the Town of Brookfield.

I have contacted Von Maur and Marcus executives, and hope to hear back from them soon. Coincidentally, I just finished a story, running Sunday in the Journal Sentinel, about delays in the approval process for a $35 million public financing proposal for The Corners.

We'll have more later at JSOnline.com, and in Friday's Journal Sentinel print edition on Nordstrom's entry into the Milwaukee area.

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About Tom Daykin

Tom Daykin covers commercial real estate and development.

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Helpful Links and Resources

Check the Milwaukee Assessor’s Office website, which includes tools to look up property assessments.

Find property assessments for other communities throughout the state at AssessorData.org.

The Milwaukee Department of City Development website includes information on the city Plan Commission and Redevelopment Authority.

The Commercial Association of Realtors Wisconsin offers information on commercial realtors and real estate.

The Milwaukee chapter of the Institute of Real Estate Management serves the needs of real estate management professionals

The Wisconsin chapter of the NAIOP Commercial Real Estate Development Association aims to serve developers and owners of commercial real estate.

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