Media Contact: Christine Romero, Westcor, 602.953.6593 office, 602.377.7540 cell christine.romero@westcor.com
Casa Grande, Ariz. - July 27, 2007 - Construction at The Promenade at Casa Grande is moving smoothly on-track, and the center is progressing perfectly toward its Nov. 16 Grand Opening celebration.
Today, the Pinal County shopping center welcomes the addition of seven new offerings to its growing slate of first-rate retailers and restaurants - Bed Bath & Beyond, Claire's, Cost Plus World Market, Fashion Bug, Mimis Cafe, Olive Garden and Sports Authority.
The Promenade at Casa Grande is designed to be a regional destination for the burgeoning Pinal County region. Sitting just off Interstate 10 and State Route 287 in Casa Grande, the center is an open-air town center that will provide the perfect place for shopping, dining and entertainment for the surrounding communities. The Promenade at Casa Grande is jointly created by WDP Partners, The Pederson Group and Westcor.
"The line-up of shops, restaurants and entertainment options is aimed at meeting our shoppers' everyday needs," said Todd Chester, principal, WDP Partners. "The newest additions help ensure that The Promenade at Casa Grande will be a destination for shoppers across Pinal County."
Top Retailers and Restaurants The Promenade at Casa Grande is made up of more than a million square feet and boasts a wide collection of many of the nation's top retailers and eateries. Today's new retailers and restaurants join the already announced: Dillard's, Best Buy, Famous Footwear, Harkins Theatres, JC Penney, Kohl's, Lane Bryant, Michaels, PetSmart, Shoe Pavilion, Staples and Target.
"Casa Grande's emerging business climate supports a growing population making it the perfect location for the newest member of Olive Garden's family of local restaurants," said Valerie Insignares, executive vice president of operations for Olive Garden.
"Mimis Cafe is thrilled to bring our signature upscale family atmosphere to Casa Grande and the surrounding Pinal County," said Jeanne Turner, of Mimis Cafe. "This is Mimis 11th Arizona location, and it will be open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. This new location allows us to serve the growing region, where we know many of our long-time guests await our arrival."
Mimis Cafe is known and loved for comfort food classics such as Chicken Pot Pie, Slow Roasted Turkey Breast and Mimis Pot Roast, served in generous portions at reasonable prices. The Casa Grande location will employ 125 people. This location will continue with its student recognition programs and outreach to local non-profits. "The Nov. 16 grand opening celebration is just the beginning of what's in store for The Promenade at Casa Grande," said Gary Pederson of The Pederson Group. "This spring, shoppers will see a wave of new retailers open. Opening the center with this phased approach helps us meet the needs of our retailers, while we continue to bring new offerings to Pinal County."
The center is perfectly positioned to serve the increasing need for nearby shops, restaurants and entertainment options in the greater Pinal County region - one of Arizona's key growth corridors. More than 120,200 people have moved into the county since 2000, bringing the current population to approximately 300,000; Pinal County's population is expected to surpass a million by 2027.
Regional Draw "The Promenade at Casa Grande also will be an incredible draw for the thousands of tourists and business travelers who pass by our center on I-10 between Phoenix and Tucson everyday," said Paul Rypma, assistant vice president, development, Westcor. "The growth in this area continues to be strong, and we expect the center to fulfill the needs of our shoppers."
The Promenade at Casa Grande's design was created with the intention of acting as an interactive town center for this quickly growing area with its casual and comfortable environment. The center will offer a variety of streetscapes that will include many amenities, such as scenic landscaping, shaded walkways and comfortable plazas for year-round enjoyment.
New Additions
More information is available at www.thepromenadeatcasagrande.com, where users can sign up for e-mail updates.
WDP Partners is a real estate development company based in Phoenix, Ariz. Former Westcor executives Wally Chester, Robert Mayhall, Jack Rasor, Robert Ward, Todd Chester and Brian Frakes established the company subsequent to the Macerich acquisition of Westcor in 2002. The company develops retail properties and continues to partner with Westcor and Macerich on other retail developments.
For 20 years, The Pederson Group has distinguished itself by developing high-quality, profitable shopping centers in Arizona. A combination of quality design and creative tenant mixes has resulted in statewide projects that have won acclaim and recognition. Additional information about The Pederson Group is available at www.pedersoninc.com.
Founded in 1969, Phoenix-based Westcor is a wholly owned subsidiary of Macerich. The largest owner-manager of commercial properties in Arizona, Westcor's portfolio currently consists of 18 million square feet of retail space at 28 shopping centers, including 11 super-regional centers, 3 specialty retail centers and 14 urban villages. The company has set the industry benchmark for ground-up shopping center development, such as Chandler Fashion Center, Prescott Gateway Mall and Scottsdale Fashion Square. Additional information about Westcor is available online at www.westcor.com.