Belk to open fashion department store at Branson Landing
03/16/2004
First Belk Store in Missouri
Belk will enter the Missouri market in spring 2006 with a new 66,000-square-foot fashion department store at Branson Landing, in Branson, Mo., pending negotiation and signing of a final lease. The Belk, Inc. Board of Directors passed a resolution approving the new store on March 10.
"Branson is a wonderful community and we're excited to announce the opening of our first Missouri store at Branson Landing," said Linda Zwern, chairman of Belk's Western Division based in Greenville, S.C. "The store's layout, decor and merchandise selections will be designed especially to meet the shopping needs of customers in this area. Belk has an outstanding reputation for providing customers with the best in fashion, value, quality and prompt friendly service and we look forward to continuing this tradition in Branson."
The new store will offer leading brands of fashion apparel, accessories, shoes, cosmetics and home merchandise, including exclusive Belk private brands. Each department will feature a unique décor and fixtures that enhance merchandise presentation. The store will also offer a variety of Belk customer services, such as a gift registry, gift-wrapping, alterations, Great Gifts cards and Belk revolving and interest-free charge accounts. Developer Rick Huffman of HCW Development Company said, "We are delighted to be able to welcome such an exceptional, well-respected department store to Branson Landing. Belk has an incredible history, combined with a successful track record, and the Branson community is eager for this store to open. This quality first-class shopping addition will reinforce our appeal to Branson's newer demographic of younger and more affluent customers."
Urban Retail Properties Co., the nation's leading retail property management firm, is leasing and will manage Branson Landing. "The merchandise strategy at Branson Landing is to offer a unique shopping and dining experience in a beautiful, waterfront setting and Belk is a perfect fit for the project," said Ross B. Glickman, CEO of Urban Retail.
About Belk
Charlotte, N.C.-based Belk, Inc. is the largest privately owned department store company in the nation. It operates 225 stores in 14 Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic states, and reported total revenues of approximately $2.26 billion for the fiscal year that ended January 31, 2004. The company and its predecessors have been successfully operating department stores since 1888 by delivering superior service and providing merchandise that meets customers' needs for fashion, value and quality.
About HCW Development
Based in Branson, Missouri, HCW Development Company brings together Branson's most successful development team, having undertaken more than $200 million in developments in the Branson area in the past 10 years.
About Urban Retail Properties Co.
Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, Urban Retail Properties Co. is an industry leader in all aspects of development, leasing, property management and marketing. Urban has great depth in development and construction experience, including new developments, major expansions and renovations. The company was formed more than 30 years ago and is also the nation's largest retail third-party manager, managing more than 45 million square feet of space in 24 states and the District of Columbia.
