April 28, 2005
Pre-opening look at Sigrid Olsen
As previously mentioned, today Sigrid Olsen opened their new store at Old Orchard, which is located in the Pear Lane part of the center. During our "date night" last night, Amy and I dropped by the new location just to see what it looked like. Obviously the store was not open yet, but you could peer in through the windows.
What we saw was actually not that impressive. Looked like basically a bunch of clothes that utilized a soft, pastel color palette. However, given that this location is at Old Orchard, they are most likely overpriced. That pretty much describes 75% of what you find there anyway.
I was actually surprised at how small the space seemed. There is not a lot of square footage there, but they are on the main thoroughfare between Marshall Field's and Lord & Taylor. If course, they are also surrounded by other specialty clothing retailers, so best of luck in trying to get their products to stand out.
Posted by Tannerman at 02:38 PM
The Croc comes to Old Orchard
Do you remember back in the 1980s how it was so "in" to wear a shirt with that goofy crocodile logo on it? Well, that stuff was made by a company called Izod.
Interestingly, the Izod brand was split in 1995 and sold to Phillips-Van Heusen, becoming crocodile-free. The brand that retained the "croc" was Lacoste, a French apparel company based in Paris.
Their namesake is Jean René Lacoste, a famous French tennis player, businessman, and innovator. He was nicknamed "the crocodile" by fans (ah, there's where that came from!). According to Wikipedia, he is now mostly known as being the namesake of the Lacoste tennis shirt, which he invented in 1929.
I mention all of this because Old Orchard is going to be opening a Lacoste store in Spring 2005, according to their construction walls located in The Garden section. The Chicago Tribune recently published this story about the upcoming opening:
Lacoste's crocodile scares up new shops
Becky Yerak
Published April 19, 2005Lacoste, the crocodile-logo polo shirts that were practically issued to people coming of age in the 1980s, is opening its second Illinois store next month in Westfield Old Orchard in Skokie.
After falling out of favor in the grungy 1990s, Lacoste is back, thanks to a resurgence of retro, preppy dressing. It's now a $1 billion brand globally, and U.S. sales rose 125 percent in 2004 and are expected to rise 60 percent in 2005. In 2001, Lacoste hired its first creative director and in 2003 had its first runway show.
The French luxury sportswearmaker has 28 stores and plans for five more in 2005, including Skokie, Las Vegas and New York's Soho neighborhood. Its other local store is in Chicago's Water Tower Place.
...Don't confuse Lacoste with Izod. The two names had been interchangeable, but Izod now represents a croc-less, lower-end polo brand sold in such retailers as J.C. Penney Co. In contrast, Lacoste polo shirts start at $70 at retailers such as Marshall Field's. New for this season are women's Lacoste swimsuits starting at $125.
Lacoste is part of a wave of new tenants at Old Orchard as 10-year leases expire. Other tenants include Sephora, Sigrid Olsen, Landau and Sisley. Among those departing: Lady Foot Locker, Sweet Factory, GNC and Christopher & Banks.
Source: Chicago Tribune
Posted by Tannerman at 11:22 AM
April 27, 2005
Good-bye Shoppingtown!
It's no secret that I detest the branding of Westfield malls as "Westfield Shoppingtown _____". It seems when Westfield purchases a property, they do their best to remove any sort of unique identity that the shopping center previously held with its customer base.
While the branding isn't completely removed, the emphasis now is placed on the corporate parent rather than the individual property itself. I think this is a bad idea as a person typically associates a positive/negative experience with a physical place when it comes to shopping, not a corporate giant. And while Westfield attempts to keep the previous mall's name in their rebranding (i.e. "Old Orchard Center" became "Westfield Shoppingtown Old Orchard"), the subtlety is lost. It's unfortunate that other large mall operators are trying to mimic this branding, namely Indianapolis-based Simon. I wish I could get my hands on some research about this strategy, either for or against, because it just baffles me.
With that in mind, I was a little shocked by this article from today's Wilmington Star-News, published in Wilmington, NC. It references Westfield Shoppingtown Independence:
Westfield engages in name-droppingInteresting!
April 27, 2005
by Bonnie EkstenWHAT'S IN A NAME: Not "Shoppingtown," after Saturday. Westfield Shoppingtown Independence mall in Wilmington will shorten its name to Westfield Independence beginning Sunday.
The Australian-based property management company manages 126 shopping malls in four countries. The company has decided that "Westfield," is the brand name consumers use and recognize, said Chuck Willetts, marketing manager at the Wilmington mall.
All the Westfield properties are slated for the name change, but don't expect signage to change immediately. Mr. Willetts said signs would reflect the new name only when they need replacing.
Posted by Tannerman at 03:51 PM
Another Marshall Field's in Chicagoland?
Even with all the previously reported hype about the future of Marshall Field's, the company just announced that they would be opening a new store in Bolingbrook, IL (about 40 miles from Old Orchard). Apparently it's part of a new shopping development called The Promenade at Bolingbrook, being built by Forest City Enterprises, a firm I've never heard of before. One wonders if this store will eventually become a Macy's.
Marshall Field's Announces Plans for New Store In Chicagoland
Tuesday April 26, 11:00 am ET
Bolingbrook to Be The Company's First Store Opening In Six YearsMINNEAPOLIS, April 26 /PRNewswire/ -- Marshall Field's today announced plans to open a new store in spring 2007 at The Promenade at Bolingbrook, a new mall development on Boughton Road near Interstate 355 and the Interstate 55 exit in Bolingbrook, Ill.
The Bolingbrook store will be Marshall Field's 18th store in Illinois and its first new full-line department store in the Chicagoland area since the opening of its Northbrook Court store in 1995 and is the retailer's first new store since its Grandville store opened in 1999. Construction of the new two-level, 180,000-square-foot Marshall Field's store will begin in fall 2005.
"We are thrilled to be part of the new growth and development of Bolingbrook and to be expanding our presence in the Chicagoland area," said Frank Guzzetta, Marshall Field's president and chief executive officer. "This is a terrific opportunity for us to create an exceptional shopping experience and introduce the Marshall Field's brand to the Bolingbrook community in a new, exciting environment."
The Promenade at Bolingbrook is a 1.1-million-square-foot retail center that is being built on two separate pieces of undeveloped land and will be linked to form a seamless shopping destination covering more than 121 acres. The first phase of The Promenade at Bolingbrook is scheduled to be completed in fall 2005, and Marshall Field's Bolingbrook will open on the south side of Boughton Road during the second phase of the development.
Source: Marshall Field's Press Release
Posted by Tannerman at 10:22 AM
Sigrid Olsen opening April 28
Another retailer that is opening soon at Old Orchard is Sigrid Olsen, a clothing specialty chain that is owned by Liz Claiborne. Here is the press release which highlights their store opening on April 28. It's interesting to note that the release references the mall as "Old Orchard Center" and not the Westfield-mandated "Westfield Shoppingtown Old Orchard":
Fashion Designer SIGRID OLSEN Announces Opening of Chicago Suburb Store
Tuesday April 26, 3:25 pm ETNEW YORK, April 26 /PRNewswire/ -- Fashion designer Sigrid Olsen brings her nature-inspired, artful clothing line to the women of the Chicago suburbs with the opening of her store at the Old Orchard Center. Opening on April 28, 2005, the SIGRID OLSEN store is the second in the Chicago area, with the first in Oakbrook Center.
"My goal is to create an uplifting experience for the consumer in an environment designed for meeting her lifestyle needs," says Sigrid. Sigrid knows that women in Chicago are educated about fashion and crave clothes that make them feel confident and feminine.
Showcasing Sigrid's sportswear line in a relaxed, comfortable shopping environment, the store brings to life the company motto of "vision/art/clothing/life" by the artistry and beauty of the space and its contents. Honey stained gauged oak, raw black metal, and woven sisal carpets are paired with antique items, drawing on Sigrid's inspiration from nature.
For Spring/Summer 2005, Sigrid presents a line full of floral prints and garden palettes. Inspired by the act of arranging a bouquet, Sigrid chooses color stories with complementary shades. Silhouettes are modern and feminine, with special attention paid to the must-haves for the seasons - jackets and skirts.
An artist by trade, Sigrid launched her sportswear line 20 years ago and has seen it grow from casual resort wear to a lifestyle collection of year- round sportswear. SIGRID OLSEN is the core of the brand, with an emphasis on coordinated color and novelty driven collections. Collection focuses on quality fabrics and attention to detail, imbued with Sigrid's sense of color. SO be it is the artful evolution of comfort casual with a fresh contemporary spin. All divisions, including SIGRID OLSEN handbags, will be featured in the store.
Old Orchard Center is located at 34 Orchard Center in Skokie IL. Store hours are 10am-9pm, Monday through Friday and 11am - 6pm on Sunday. In addition to the new store, there are twenty-seven SIGRID OLSEN retail stores nationwide. The line is also available at select department and specialty stores.
Source: Sigrid Olsen Press Release
Posted by Tannerman at 09:57 AM
April 26, 2005
Self-serve cosmetics: Sephora in Spring 2005
A lot of you may be wondering why all the recent store openings at Old Orchard? Is the mall not doing well or something? Actually, that's not the case all. It helps to know a little history. Mainly, that Old Orchard underwent a massive renovation in 1995. My dad actually worked as a carpenter on a few projects at Marshall Field's during this time of rehab. Anyway, it's 2005 now and many of those 10-year leases are expiring, thus the influx of new stores.
And it looks like a Sephora is being added. Being a guy, I'm like, "who cares?" But, for those interested, you may be curious in regards to a more official description of the retail chain: Shopping for cosmetics at Sephora is meant to be a hands-on sensual experience. Sephora's self-service approach to buying makeup arrived from France in 1998 with the opening of the first Sephora USA stores in New York and Miami. Now with about 95 stores nationwide, Sephora stocks more than 250 brands of prestige products, including its own collections of cosmetics, skin care, and bath and body products, all of which customers are encouraged to sample.
Sephora also sells via catalog and online at Sephora.com. Sephora is one of the largest fragrance and cosmetics retailers in Europe. Formed in 1993 by founder Dominique Mandonnaud, Sephora was acquired by LVMH, the world's leading luxury products group, in 1997.
Posted by Tannerman at 09:08 PM
April 25, 2005
Anchors: Will they change?
Currently, there are 5 anchor stores at Old Orchard. These are Bloomingdale's, Lord & Taylor, Marshall Field's, Nordstrom, and Saks Fifth Avenue. Interestingly, consolidation is bringing many of these anchors under common owners. This may soon change the face of Old Orchard like it has at so many other shopping centers.
For example, Marshall Field's was sold to The May Department Stores Company in July 2004. This put both Field's and Lord & Taylor under the same roof. Then in February 2005, Federated Department Stores acquired May, resulting in Bloomingdale's, Marshall Field's, and Lord & Taylor all being owned by the same company. That's over half of Old Orchard's anchors.
Will Federated keep all 3 stores running at Old Orchard? Will they sell off the real estate to someone else? Will the much-rumored name change of Field's to Macy's actually happen? I think we'll start to see some answers form this year. In the meantime, here's a quick rundown of who owns what when it comes to the anchor stores (Old Orchard anchors denoted with an astrick):
- Famous-Barr
- Filene's
- Foley's
- Hecht's
- Kaufmann's
- L.S. Ayres
- Lord & Taylor*
- Marshall Field's*
- Meier & Frank
- Robinsons-May
- Strawbridge's
- The Jones Store
- David's Bridal
- After Hours Formalwear
- Priscilla of Boston
- Saks Fifth Avenue*
- Parisian
- Proffitt's
- McRae's
- Younkers
- Herberger's
- Carson Pirie Scott
- Bergner's
- Boston Store
- Off 5th
- Club Libby Lu
Posted by Tannerman at 06:47 PM
Movin' on up with Rogers & Hollands
For some reason, jewelry stores like to be situated at corner locations in malls. There is probably some nifty piece of research out there promoting how they do well in these types of areas, because you see it everywhere. Old Orchard has its share of jewelry stores. I know this because Amy and I actually visited most of them when we were shopping for wedding rings a few years back.
A Midwest-based retailer of jewelry that you often find in shopping centers is Rogers & Hollands. Up until recently, they had a non-corner space located on the east side of The Garden section of Old Orchard. I actually bought a wedding band for myself there before we got married. However, I found something better elsewhere and later returned the first ring.
In any case, Rogers & Hollands is moving to a new location that is actually not too far from their previous location. And surprise, surprise, it's a corner that faces The Park section, right across from a fountain. The space was previously occupied by H2O Plus, which is also moving to a new location in the Pear Lane section of the mall. No word on when the new location is opening for Rogers & Hollands, but I must say that their temporary construction walls look really cheesy.
Posted by Tannerman at 11:46 AM
Fake jewelry finds its way to Old Orchard
Apparently, a Landau store is "Coming Soon" to Old Orchard Center (I still refuse to call it Westfield Shoppingtown Old Orchard). From the looks of their website, this is nothing to write home about. A little poking around on the Web reveals that "Landau is the largest chain of elegant accessory boutiques in the world with over sixty exclusive boutiques located in the most exclusive shopping settings."
Is there really a big demand for costume jewerly?
Posted by Tannerman at 11:19 AM
Unearth a Fossil in Summer 2005
One of the many store additions coming to Old Orchard Center is Fossil, a retailer that specializes in an extensive line of fashion watches sold under their own brands along with some licensed properties, including Emporio Armani and DKNY. The store also sells other odds and ends in the fashion realm such as leather goods, belts, handbags, and sunglasses.
The new store is located in The Park section of the mall in a relatively small space. The corporate office is based in Richardson, TX. Over the past 3 years, watch purchases have accounted for approximately 68-70% of their net sales. At Old Orchard, there is already a Sunglass Hut/Watch Station, so I don't really know how Fossil is going to fit into the mix. It does seem, however, that their product is slightly more upscale.
Posted by Tannerman at 08:54 AM
April 21, 2005
NikeWomen store arriving Summer 2005
There is a lot of retail development going on at Old Orchard right now, more than we've seen over the past year, in my opinion. Pretty much anywhere you walk through the center you'll be greeted by construction walls proclaiming something is "Coming Soon". One such addition to this North Shore shopping mecca is NikeWomen (officially Nike spells it as "nikewomen"... go figure).
Old Orchard's store is slated to open "Summer 2005," so that leaves a pretty broad timeframe (though the construction wall states "July 2005"). Interestingly, this is only the 8th standalone NikeWomen store in the country. All but one are in California (with the oddball in Georgia), so I would imagine this will be some sort of tentpole for the region. You'll find the others at Fashion Island (Newport Beach, CA), The Grove (Los Angeles, CA), South Coast Plaza (Costa Mesa, CA), The Shops at Mission Viejo (Mission Viejo, CA), Stanford Shopping Center (Palo Alto, CA), Fashion Valley (San Diego, CA), and Lenox Square (Atlanta, GA).
Unlike a NikeTown store, which we have in downtown Chicago, NikeWomen stores are "designed to strengthen Nike's relationship with female customers through a lifestyle approach rather than the sports imagery themes found in other Nike stores." Um, OK. Apparently rather than looking like a Foot Locker, with footwear on one wall, apparel somewhere else, NikeWomen stores integrate all that stuff. For example, they display products on tables, next to coordinated outfits. There are no hard benches or locker-room decorations. Nike says that "walking into a NikeWomen store will feel like coming into someone's home." Except that this person will try to sell you stuff.
Apparently, the chain used to be called NIKEgoddess, but was renamed recently. Gee, don't know why that first name didn't work out!
Posted by Tannerman at 07:33 PM
Takin' photos at Old Orchard
Having previously worked for a real estate investment trust (REIT) -- that's fancy talk for a company the builds and runs malls -- I'm somewhat familiar with the policies that are often put in place for a property. As much as people choose to forget, a shopping center is not public property, and therefore those who utilize them are subject to the rules of conduct that are imposed. It's even harder to come to grips with this when the shopping center is an open-air mall like Old Orchard because it feels like city streets or a park.
I remember when I was a kid we used to do these photo scavenger hunts with my youth group using Polaroid cameras. The ideal location was the area's largest mall, Woodfield. Given the size of that place, you could easily spread a group out to discover unique situations for film. However, every time we did such an event, we were required to get permission from mall operations first.
For some reason, retailers seem a bit nervous about cameras. Maybe they are afraid that a competitor will take photos of their window displays, signage, or something. Who knows. When I worked out at Randhurst, I don't believe that photography inside the mall was generally allowed. However, being a member of the management office, I was allowed to freely roam and take personal photos if I wanted. I was also often tasked with taking photos of storefronts on behalf of the leasing office. Often, photos are used inside the industry when a retailer is trying to sell a concept to a certain shopping center. They help illustrate what a store will look like, etc.
Given the scope of the Old Orchard Observer, photos help illustrate the "news and views" that I write about. Amy and I have taken photos at Old Orchard before without problems. But, just to be on the safe side, I thought I would walk over to the Customer Service area (which Westfield ridiculously calls the "Shopping Concierge Center") and ask what the mall's policy was on photography. Often, you'll find a Code of Conduct posted at the entrance to a center, but I could not find one.
While I was talking to the folks at Customer Service, a Old Orchard security officer joined the conversation to add his insight. According to what he told me, photography inside a store is not allowed. However, outside photos of the landscaping, such as flowers, topiaries, etc., would be acceptable. If you are taking a photo of another person outside while in the mall, that is allowed. However, they tend to frown on photos of actual buildings. Sounds like an obscure policy, but I can understand the concerns.
So, apparently, to be in the clear, I just need to have Amy included in every shot I take at Old Orchard!
Posted by Tannerman at 01:02 PM
Cold Stone Creamery adds custom flavor
Per the Official Site, the new Cold Stone Creamery in The Vineyard section of Old Orchard is slated to open on April 30.
Cold Stone Creamery will celebrate their grand opening by introducing a special Skokie Flavor: Skokie Crunch. Skokie Mayor George Van Dusen will be the celebrity scooper at the event. During the grand opening celebration from noon to 2pm a portion of sales will benefit United Way of Skokie Valley. For extra fun, a clown will be on hand from 1 to 4pm and a balloon artist will entertain children from 4 to 7pm.
Posted by Tannerman at 11:56 AM
April 20, 2005
Where is Old Orchard?
Old Orchard is located north of Chicago in the suburb of Skokie, inland of an area that is locally referred to as the "North Shore". Demographics tend to be upscale, with an average household income (HHI) of $110,046 (2001 figures per Polk/MapInfo Target Pro Demographic Analyzer). Comparatively, Chicago's HHI is $83,163, while the national average comes in at $59,148. So, it's without saying that Old Orchard is located in a prime area for retail success.
Located right off of I-94 (Edens Expressway), Old Orchard is roughly 20 minutes from our apartment in Chicago. It's bordered by Old Orchard Road to the north, Skokie Blvd. to the east, and Golf Road to the south. There is no direct access from the west off Lawler Ave. Access to the mall from the Interstate is at the Old Orchard Road exit.
The Center is located on a rectangular plot of land and the main walkways are actually oriented on an angle, following a northeast to southwest direction. Like most regional shopping centers, the core buildings are at the center, while parking lots surround the complex. Most lots are at ground level, however there are also 4 parking garage structures. At Christmastime, it's very hard to find a parking spot at Old Orchard.
The layout of Old Orchard emphasizes the 5 anchor stores it contains: Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, Bloomingdale's, Lord & Taylor, and Marshall Field's. You'll find these retail giants located at key points throughout the property, somewhat evenly spaced from each other.
Posted by Tannerman at 08:34 PM
April 14, 2005
What the heck is this?
So, I know what you are saying. "Steve, do you really need another website to worry about?" After all, I already have a blog over at SteveandAmySly.com. I already have a pretty active set of discussion forums at TannerWorld Junction. I already have a professional portfolio website. Not to mention some odd side projects. Oh, and I do have a real job keeping things running at Kidology.org. So what am I doing launching something new at Bounga.com?
The truth of the matter is that most of the above projects were experiments. Either with software platforms (vBulletin over in TannerWorld Junction), journalistic tests (personal weblogging), adding new ideas to an old process (integrating online elements into a wedding), or concepts in online interaction (pretty much any crazy contest or event from the forums). That's what I'm doing here.
The current buzz in both the online and offline world revolves around blogging. While Amy and I have been doing that for a few years with our makeshift publishing system on SteveandAmySly.com, I've never used a blog-specific tool. Interest in blogging has grown, whether it be with my employer, professional contacts, or friends. Many want to know about the ins-and-outs of this whole blogging thing. So, to familiarize myself with current online trends, I have installed Movable Type, a popular online publishing tool used often for weblogs and journals.
As is often the case with those who decide to start blogging, they often rant about their personal lives or comment about other items they see online. Eventually, they get bored with the concept and yet another publishing area is abandoned. Because guess what, it takes a lot of work to write! So as I was thinking about testing out this platform, I obviously needed something to write about. Something that wouldn't demand a lot of my time with daily updates, but something that would provide for frequent updates with unique content.
I decided to write about Old Orchard Shopping Center, a large open-air mall located in the Chicago suburbs. I was already writing about the center infrequently on SteveandAmySly.com with items such as Death at Old Orchard (12/19/03), Lights out at Illuminations (2/19/04), Photo Update (7/14/04), Photo Update (12/9/04), and well as covering nearby shopping centers. It was only natural to take this personal interest and adapt it to the content needs I have here.
Also, for those who don't know, I worked in the retail industry for a while, employed by an owner and manager of shopping centers across the country. Thus I have an established interest in this phenomena of American culture. Plus, given my interest in themed environments and how they relate to human experience, adapting to Old Orchard's outdoor, park-like setting made sense. Finally, Amy and I often spend our "date nights" at Old Orchard, so it's not like I'm going out of my way to visit.
So that's the plan. To discover more about Movable Type and how it relates to the world of online publishing while focusing content around a definable, updateable subject matter. Oh, and it finally gives me a reason to use that Bounga.com domain I've had sitting around for a while! :) This thing will be constantly evolving. We'll see what happens.
Thanks for reading!
- Steve
Posted by Tannerman at 06:09 PM