Friday, August 13, 2010

Crosland Announces New Retailers for Blakeney and Blakeney Crossing

Crosland LLC, one of the Southeast's leading diversified real estate
firms, announces six new retailers set to open at the upscale shopping
center plazas Blakeney and Blakeney Crossing. Jos. A. Bank, TCBY, Le
Cookery and PJ's Designs will join the mix of Blakeney restaurants and
retailers later this year. Celebrating its grand opening, bevello, a
woman's clothing boutique, opened its doors at Blakeney in early July.
Also joining Blakeney Crossing will be City Cigar Co. and Papa
Murphy's Take 'N' Bake Pizza this fall.
Blakeney

Jos. A. Bank (3,765 sf), a retailer of fine apparel for men, is
expected to open at Blakeney in early fall.
With a heritage of quality and workmanship, an extensive selection of
beautifully made, classically-styled, tailored and casual clothing,
and prices typically 20 to 30 percent below competitors, Jos. A. Bank
is not just another menswear retailer. This upscale retailer offers
customers an expert staff of sales professionals who prize service and
customer satisfaction.
Jos A. Bank has more than 475 stores nationwide and offers customers
toll-free ordering from any of their four seasonal catalogs 24-hours-a-
day, seven–days-a-week.

"Having an exclusive men's retailer such as Jos. A. Bank's caliber
join Blakeney is truly exciting as it further expands the shopping
center's offerings and clientele," said Susan McGuire, Crosland's
senior vice president of retail.

After browsing the racks throughout the shopping center, Blakeney
customers can take advantage of a tasty treat at TCBY (1,657 sf),
which will open its doors later this year. Founded in 1981, the
Country's Best Yogurt is known for innovative yogurt flavors and
exciting new products. Today, the famous dessert shop offers a
selection diverse enough to appeal to just about everyone. From
signature soft-serve yogurt to new, fruit and yogurt packed smoothies;
the choices are perfect for a healthier, active and balanced lifestyle.

Amateur chefs and culinary experts alike will love Le Cookery (2,011
sf), which plans to open early fall. Owners Charles & Laurel Greif are
expanding their Hilton Head Island-based business and opening a second
location in Blakeney. The retailer will offer the bestquality kitchen
small appliances, cutlery, tableware, stemware, bakeware, cookware and
other kitchen accessories to Blakeney customers. As an exclusive
authorized dealer for top kitchen vendors both nationally and
internationally, LeCookery will carry products from companies such as
Viking, Vietri, Juliska, All-Clad, J.A. Henckels, Swiss Diamond,
Intrada, Culinary Institute of America, ClickClack and many more. The
retailer will also provide gift and bridal registry options as well as
an experienced, professional and knowledgeable staff that is ready to
assist customers with all their kitchen needs.

Also coming soon to Blakeney is PJ's Designs (1,604 sf), a home
furnishings retailer specializing in furniture, window coverings,
artwork, lamps and other home accessories.

bevello (2,119 sf) opened its second Charlotte-area location in
Blakeney on July 9. The boutique offers an eclectic selection of
women's apparel, shoes and accessories by brands such as Max & Cleo,
BCBGeneration, Dolce Vita, TOMS, Sam Edelman, Citizens of Humanity,
William Rast, Rock & Republic, RYU, GLAM, Voom an VaVa by Joy Han,
Esley, Theme, Aryn K. and more. bevello's fashion-forward styles in
women's clothing and accessories are sure to make each customer feel
stylish, confident and one step ahead of the trend.
Customers of bevello should expect nothing less than a unique love-
centric fashion experience. When shopping at bevello, customers should
feel beautiful and loved. The retailer's name is derived from the
Italian word "bella" which means "beautiful" mixed with a little
"love." bevello's logo is "bve," thoughtfully designed to be read as
both an abbreviation for "bevello" and "love." It is the retailer's
mission to help you dress your best and feel your best wherever you go.

"Blakeney is the only high-end life style shopping center that I
considered in South Charlotte," said owner Chan Namgong, who owns
three other bevello stores throughout North Carolina. "It has great co-
tenants, and it has created a unique shopping experience where
families can come out and eat and shop at the same time. I love its
summer concert series and many events that bring communities together."
Blakeney Crossing

Joining Blakeney Crossing is City Cigar Co. (1,104 sf) which is
expected to open in early September. Owners Todd and Linda McCranie,
who have been in business in Charlotte for more than 30 years and
operate two other full-line tobacco shops in the area, feel City Cigar
Co. is a different concept from their existing stores. The retail shop
will sell cigars and related accessories, but with a more focused
offering – reminiscent of the old-time cigar shop. City Cigar Co. will
feature a large walk-in Spanish cedar humidor stocked with a wide
selection of cigars. In addition, the retailer will stock lighters,
cutters and humidors – all accompanied by a very knowledgeable and
professional staff.

Also opening in September is Papa Murphy's Take 'N' Bake Pizza (1,290
sf). The pizzeria, named Best Pizza Chain in Americayear after year by
Restaurants and Institutions Consumers' Choice in Chains 2009,
specializes in custom pizzas made before the customer's eyes. Shoppers
can choose a favorite Papa Murphy's pizza or create their own custom
pizza – selecting the crust, the sauce and the toppings – to be made
right before them with only the finest ingredients. The menu boasts a
varied selection of Signature, Stuffed, Gourmet and Thin Crust deLITE®
pizzas accompanied by a Cheesy Bread appetizer, nutritious salads and
delicious desserts such as handmade take 'n' bake chocolate chip
cookie dough.

Papa Murphy's has established itself as the largest Take 'N' Bake
pizza company in the world — and is now the fifth-largest pizza
company in the United States with more than 1,150 stores in 35 states.
About Blakeney

Blakeney is a 270-acre multi-use development two miles outside I-485,
zoned for 495,000 square feet of retail to include a mix of local and
national retailers with a signature retail component of specialty
shops, as well as casual and upscale dining. Crosland's retail, land
development, office, apartments and contracting divisions are all
involved in Blakeney, which encompasses four quadrants at the
intersection of Rea and Ardrey-Kell roads – key thoroughfares
connecting southern Mecklenburg and Union counties. The pedestrian-
friendly community links retail, office, residential and recreational
amenities through a network of sidewalks and trails, highlighted by
preserved greenways and a two-acre park.
About Blakeney Crossing

Located at the corner of Ardrey Kell and Rea Roads, Blakeney Crossing
boasts 87,000 square feet of retail space for shops, restaurants and
services. Anchoring the center are national retailers Best Buy and
PetSmart. Previously announced shops include Winestore, Asian Fusion,
Salsarita's Fresh Cantina and Omaha Steaks.
About Crosland

Founded in 1937, Crosland is one of the most prominent diversified
real estate companies in the Southeast and is recognized as a leading
community builder. Its expertise in retail, multifamily, office, land
development, and general contracting enables it to be an innovator in
multi- and mixed-use development.
Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., Crosland has offices in Raleigh,
Orlando, Tampa and Nashville, and develops, builds and manages
properties in the Carolinas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee and
Virginia. The privately held company's asset portfolio and current
projects have a market value exceeding $1 billion. For more detail,
visit crosland.com.