Barnes and Noble Booksellers, a fixture on the City Middle Corte Madera mall, plans to depart after greater than 15 years on the web site, and Arhaus, a house furnishings firm, is getting ready to maneuver into the area.
The bookstore has plans to shut its store at 313 Corte Madera City Middle after March 12, mentioned Janine Flanigan, the corporate’s director of retailer planning and design. Flanigan mentioned its lease with the mall, located on the west aspect of Freeway 101, has come to an finish.
“We’d like to proceed to be in that space, however there’s not a chance for us to remain there,” Flanigan mentioned. “It’s a fantastic market and we’re actively on the lookout for a brand new location.”
The corporate’s actual property workforce hopes to discover a retail area in Marin County in time to open enterprise by the top of the 12 months, Flanigan mentioned.
In the meantime, a plan to transform the shop at 313 Corte Madera City Middle is beneath evaluation.
Final week, the Planning Fee voted 4-0, with Margaret Bandel absent, to proceed the assembly to its March 14 session. The fee requested for a number of modifications to the plan, which the Arhaus software workforce mentioned it should work on.
Tenant enhancements at City Middle may usually be dealt with administratively. Nevertheless, the plan entails what city planners classify as main exterior renovation, elevating the proposal to Planning Fee evaluation.
The 27,744-square-foot retailer is on the southeastern nook of the mall, subsequent to Crate and Barrel, going through the freeway. It has been occupied by Barnes and Noble since 2006. Earlier than that, Marshalls had operated throughout the area for practically 20 years.
The challenge proposes to revamp the Mediterranean-style Barnes and Noble constructing with a extra up to date Arhaus type. The plan requires eradicating a ramp getting into from the left entrance of the shop, and changing it with an out of doors furnishings area.
A key characteristic to the challenge is the sequence of rectangular arches which are elevated above the roofline.
Commissioners agreed that they most well-liked a second various that was offered the place all of the arches had been lowered, besides the one above the doorway.
Commissioners mentioned they need the brown corten materials to solely be used behind the model indicators, reasonably than dispersed all through the façade. On the courtyard going through aspect, the fee instructed utilizing smaller indicators for a extra pedestrian-friendly really feel.
Commissioners additionally instructed that the applicant search power environment friendly rankings with LEED-certification and mentioned landscaping must be drought resistant. The certification stands for Management in Power and Environmental Design.
The applicant mentioned it’s agreeable to the design adjustments and would discover its potential to acquire LEED certification.
Commissioners requested whether or not photo voltaic enhancements may very well be made as a part of the Arhaus renovation.
Monty Stephens, normal supervisor of the mall, mentioned that he has a couple of proposals that may be delivered to the city individually.
“It’s incumbent on upon the middle to determine find out how to go photo voltaic,” mentioned Peter Chase, chair of the fee. “It’s coming in a technique or one other. It’s simply obtained to be a part of all people’s program.”
Extra info on the challenge is at townofcortemadera.org.
Nikkee Edmiston, director of actual property for Arhaus, mentioned the corporate has greater than 80 shops throughout the nation.
“Now we have many initiatives deliberate over the following couple of years and we’re excited to proceed sharing our model with Corte Madera,” Edmiston mentioned.
The mall, which was in-built 1958, has has a number of tenant developments of late.
Anthem, one other dwelling furnishing retailer, has arrange store there. Furnishings gross sales “is a really sturdy class for us and that’s one of many important causes,” Stephens mentioned of the addition. That’s seconded solely by meals gross sales, he mentioned.
Safeway Corte Madera is present process a significant retailer transform, which is predicted to be accomplished in April.
Roam Artisan Burgers is ready to open this fall on the La Maison area subsequent to City Outfitters.
