West DSM: Jordan Creek Town Center

[Ingersoll1978]

Jordan Creek Entrance Sign on the east side of the property.

Jordan Creek Town Center will open on August 4, 2004 and will bring a new level of shopping and entertainment to Central Iowa. The two million square foot ($200 Million) (200 acre) project will be the ultimate destination, a Town Center for West Des Moines. The vibrant master-planned development highlights three distinct features:

The "Shopping District" is a two level enclosed shopping center featuring a dynamic combination of upscale fashion and lifestyle retailers in a streetscape design.

The "Lake District" highlights a 3.5 acre lake surrounded by bike trails, pedestrian walkways, and a boardwalk offering waterfront dining, a hotel and amphitheater.

The "Village" hosts a collection of large and specialty retailers in an open-air lifestyle design.

---- above description is from jordancreek.com-------

Over 50 of the retailers are new to the Des Moines market and over 25 of them are new to Iowa. Here are some of the new stores and restaurants:

abercrombie, Abercrombie & Fitch, Ann Taylor Loft, Apple Computer, Brookstone, Champps, Cheesecake Factory, Chico's, Coach, Draper's & Damon's, DSW Shoe Warehouse, Fossil, Godiva Chocolatier, Hollister, J Crew, JJill, Jared's Galleria of Jewelry, Joe's Crab Shack, Jos A Bank Clothiers, LoveSac, Misako, New York & Co, PF Changs, Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Kids, The Sharper Image, White House/Black Market, and Williams-Sonoma.

The anchors of the mall are Scheels All Sports, Dillards, and an "upscaled" Younkers. The other major tenants include Barnes & Noble, Best Buy, Bed Bath & Beyond, Century Theatres, & Petco.

For a complete listing, visit jordancreek.com

There is also another major announcement that is supposed to reveal the last set of stores and restaurants at the end of July. I'm hoping that the much talked about Nordstrom is on that list. That would be a coup!

This is definitely a shoppers paradise that will attract millions every year.

Near the main court:


Site Plan:


Architecture renderings:



Photos under construction from jordancreek.com:
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[DMRyan]

The feather in the cap of Jordan Creek would be the annoucement of a Nordstrom store going into the "anchor #4" slot on the site plan. Let's keep our fingers crossed. The site plan also lists Famous-Barr, which has been replaced by an upgraded Younkers store. The site listed as "Retail Store A" will likely be the Costco location, while the lifestyle portion of the development will hold the Best Buy, Upscale Grocery Store and Petco, among other tenants.

The aerial of the mall under construction is looking south where Wells Fargo's new $250 million Home Mortagage HQ complex is under construction right now. Just to the left of this site, a huge mixed-use development has started grading work. This will likely be the location of a new Super Wal-mart , among other stores. The development to the right, or west of photo will be relatively residential in nature. Off the photo to the left, or east, construction is underway on the Crossing at Jordan Creek Development, which will probably land a few big box stores of its own like a Home Depot, along with a couple of hotels. One mile down the road, construction is starting on the West Glen mixed-use project, which will soon have a thread of its own (another very exciting project).

Aside from the large mall development, this makes three giant mixed-use commercial/office/hotel/residential developments going up in very close proximity to the mall. This will likely dictate 85% of the entire retail growth in the metro over the next 10 years. The uncontested hottest land in all of Iowa right now...

[Will]

Let me start by saying the web site looks very good. I hope to see many pictures of Des Moines here like Eomaha has on his site. I have never really been in Des Moines before, I have driven though several times. This jordan creek project seems like the thing to drag my wife and kids to Des Moines. I do need directions from Omaha to where the project is located. It seems like it will be a great area to shop in, and I hope that Omaha will some day get something like this as well.

[Ingersoll1978]

To Will---

Take Interstate 80 from Omaha to the Jordan Creek Parkway exit (Exit 121). Take a right and go about 2 miles to the south...wallah...Jordan Creek Town Center. :) There are numerous hotels off that exit from Marriott to Hampton Inn. Stay a night and see what Des Moines offers!

[NOG]

Looks like the Cheesecake Factory will be opening a couple of days earlier than the mall. I wonder how the one in KC will stay in business. It always seemed like half the people in there were from Iowa.


From the Des Moines Register:

Cheesecake Factory plans grand opening

The Cheesecake Factory invites the public to its grand opening July 31 to benefit two charities.

The event, set for 7 to 10 p.m. at the Jordan Creek Town Center, will feature cocktails, appetizers, a buffet, cheesecake and live music. Century 20 Theatres at Jordan Creek will also be showing movies. VIP passes will be provided.

Tickets to the event cost $50. All proceeds will support Orchard Place, a youth and family services organization, and Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Central Iowa .

To purchase tickets, call Orchard Place at 246-3507 or Boys & Girls Clubs at 262-5695.

[DMRyan]

Scheels is supposed to open early, on July 29th I believe. Of course, they say only 75 of the 120 some stores will be open on the Grand Opening on August 4th. I can't wait to see what kind of tenants all the nearby developments attract as well. West Glen Town Center will be top notch and perhaps our best chance of attracting some REAL upscale retailers.

KC actually has two Cheesecake Factory's, but I'm sure the one on The Plaza receives the lion's share of Iowa business. That's the one I've always gone to anyway. I can't wait for our Cheesecake Factory to open up so I can have some of those $10 drinks they're known for.

[NewHtsDSM]

I remember being in a Cheesecake Factory in downtown Seattle 4 years ago. I told my family at the time to enjoy it because it will be a VERY long time before we ever see one in DM, if ever.

I guess I should give DM more credit, it is moving up in the world faster than I ever imagined (not that a Cheesecake Factory is the end all, be all, but it is a sign DM is moving to the next level).

[Ingersoll1978]

Cheesecake Factory is definately a status symbol for restaurants. Not everyone has a Cheesecake Factory! I'm quite happy about that one!

I would like to see these chain stores too:

Diesel
Crate & Barrell (even a CB2 would be cool)
Lego
Nordstrom
Virgin Megastore
and Armani Exchange

If these stores came...that would definately fullfill General Growth's commitment of a retail experience we have never seen in Central Iowa.

[DMRyan]

Well, I'm keeping the faith on the Nordstrom spot. I noticed the particular wall of the mall that will someday hopefully hold another anchor store was built pretty blank...meaning no windows or trim accents. General Growth has gone back and expanded malls fairly constantly.

As for the other stores, I would rather see a Virgin MegaStore and Crate & Barrel, Urban Outfitters, et al built downtown, but I'm just dreaming. Hell, maybe even IKEA will stop being so damn selective of where they locate in the future.

[DMRyan]

On a recent newscast, they toured the inside of the Jordan Creek Mall and I personally was blown away. This thing is guilded beyond belief. An open, airy feel and plenty of indoor landscaping will great guests, along with high quality woods and metals. They even have large pillars of light sculptures that change colors at night outside of the Flagship Younkers Store. Everything about this mall looked very first class. General Growth may have moved their headquarters to Chicago, but they've done Des Moines right with this one.

They mentioned 300,000 people will likely pass through the mall on opening weekend! That's over half of the population of the whole metro! On top of that, it's the annual sales tax holiday that weekend. If you want to shop in the quiet confines of every other mall in the metro, that might be the weekend to do it.

[Ingersoll1978]

MORE JORDAN CREEK PICS July 19th, 2004

Property Sign @ Mills Parkway & 68th St.


View from Jordan Creek Parkway(74th St)& EP True Parkway looking southeast.


Looking east from Jordan Creek Parkway.


Looking west from 68th St.


Looking west from 68th St (north building of the village area).


Looking directly north from Mills Parkway.


Looking north east from Mills Parkway (village area). The new Residence Inn is the taller building in the background.

[WesternIowan]

Some friends and I are planning a trip to check out Jordan Creek. Does anyone have any recommendations for hotels that are relatively close? Preferably something in the Hilton or Marriott family of hotels. (i like my points).
Thanks

[DMRyan]

There's a huge 9-10 story Marriott on 74th...excuse me, Jordan Creek Parkway, right off of I-80. It's not even two miles away from the mall. Otherwise, you may check to see if there's any vacancies at the new Marriott Residence Inn that's actually on the site of the mall.

[WesternIowan]

Thanks! I know that Marriott. I guess I didn't realize it was so close to that area.

[Ingersoll1978]

Try the Hampton Inn (Hilton) in West Des Moines. It's a great hotel that is rated in the top 10% of the chain. Just off of Jordan Creek Pkwy(74th St) and I-80. They just renovated and have a lot of comfortable touches including free drinks in the evenings(M-Th) and a great breakfast. The staff is wonderful as well(I used to work there)!

[ICGuy]

Here's an article from the Iowa City Press-Citizen about the potential impact of Jordan Creek on Coral Ridge in the Iowa City/Coralville area. Has an Iowa City slant, but still some interesting info - and shows the impact of JC on much of the state.

New mall titan moves in

Coral Ridge officials: Stores? effects will not last

Sunday, July 25, 2004

By Deidre Bello
Iowa City Press-Citizen

At more than one-and-a-half times the size of Coral Ridge Mall, the new king of Iowa shopping malls is preparing to open next month in West Des Moines.

But while the mammoth Jordan Creek Town Center might overshadow the Coralville mall in size, the expectation that it also will draw away shoppers is a phenomenon area residents and mall managers say will pass.

"I think in the long-run, our shoppers will continue to go to Coral Ridge Mall," said Monica Nadeau, Coral Ridge Mall manager. "We will be two completely different malls. They will focus on upper-end clients. We are the family destination with the carousel, the ice arena, The Children's Museum .... That will continue to be our focus, to focus on the family."

Chicago-based General Growth Properties Inc. owns both Coral Ridge and Jordan Creek, part of a portfolio that totals 177 regional shopping malls in 41 states.

The $200 million, 200-acre development with "Shopping District," "Lake District," and "Village" opens Aug. 4 before Iowa's tax-free weekend. The two-level enclosed mall with streetscape design has about 120 retailers, a 3.5-acre lake surrounded by eight restaurants, a 150-room Residence Inn by Marriott, a children's play area and an amphitheater.

Opening day is expected to draw about 100,000 visitors, with 15,000 rushing through in the first five minutes, General Growth spokeswoman Julie Jacoby said. Some 300,000 people are expected to visit the development during the weekend, she said.

The migration of traffic is not unlike what happened when Coral Ridge opened in 1998.

During Coral Ridge's first year, retail sales jumped by about $222 million in Coralville and by about $250 million in Johnson County, according to a 2000 report by Ken Stone, professor emeritus at Iowa State University. Meanwhile, Iowa City retailers lost $40 million in general merchandise sales and $6.35 million in apparel sales but gained in eating and drinking sales because of additional traffic.

"It remains to be seen what kind of impact it will have," said Josh Schamberger, president of the Iowa City/Coralville Convention and Visitors Bureau. "I'm confident we have enough other venues and attractions in the area."

Visitors to Johnson County spend about $200 million each year and the tourism industry employs more than 3,200 people, making it the third largest employer in Iowa City and Coralville, Schamberger said.

Jordan Creek is expected to capture about $82 million in Iowa retail spending. The mall also will provide about 3,000 jobs in retail and at 95 percent leased, Jordan Creek still has potential space for more retailers.

"One of the purposes of Jordan Creek is to bring some of the retailers from Kansas City, Minneapolis and Chicago to Des Moines," Jacoby said. "The main trade area encompasses a 50-mile radius and accounts for 30 percent of the state's population."

The restaurant lineup, which includes P.F. Chang's, Joe's Crab Shack and Cheesecake Factory, would rival any restaurant in the United States, Jacoby said. Retailers include Pottery Barn, J. Crew, Apple Computer, Misako, OshKosh B'Gosh, Fossil, Gadzooks and Starbucks Coffee.

Iowa City resident Tiffany Wells, 21, said Jordan Creek might influence her shopping when it first opens but in the long-term she won't change her routine. Coral Ridge Mall and Jordan Creek Town Center's "Shopping District" share 32 of the same retailers.

"If they have most of the same stores that we have here, why would I travel that far to shop?" Wells asked.

The Coralville mall opened in 1998 and attracted Des Moines shoppers to stores like Old Navy and Abercrombie and Fitch, Nadeau said. Since then, those retailers opened at Valley West Mall in West Des Moines and the number of shoppers from the Des Moines metropolitan area has decreased, she said.

Coral Ridge continues to attract 10 million visitors a year and employ more than 2,000 people. There are 120 stores at the 1.2 million-square-foot retail center. At 100 percent leased, the mall sees about three to five spaces a year in turnover.

Flash Digital Portraits of Minneapolis will open a store at the Coralville mall July 29 in the space formally occupied by Fallwelles Gifts. Starbucks Coffee will open at the end of August next to Zales Jewelers. Sarku Japan opened in early July in the food court.

Jordan Creek will bring in a handful of retailers new to Iowa, which could be helpful to Coral Ridge, Nadeau said. If the stores do well there, Coral Ridge could have the opportunity to attract them.

[DMRyan]

Thanks for the article Rob. Sure, a lot of outstate people will come to the mall intially, but once the newness wears off, it'll likely only be for the occasional trip to take advantage of the stores not found in other markets. Coral Ridge is a heck of a mall and I'm sure General Growth wouldn't want to jeopardize the stability of one of its own malls. There's really no head-to-head competition between the two.

Jordan Creek is the largest buzz in DSM right now. Even all the gambling talk hasn't compared to the excitement that's been built around JC opening. Next Wednesday is the day!

[ICGuy]

The buzz isn't only being generated in DSM - but even out here, especially with some of the new stores being located there. I assume General Growth doesn't own Valley West and Merle Hay - it'll be interesting to see what happens with those centers after next week.

[Ingersoll1978]

This was posted @ jordancreek.com today. I wish they would stop teasing and tell us whether or not Nordstrom is coming!!!! LOL

Ann Taylor to Open at Jordan Creek Town Center
GENERAL GROWTH BRINGS ANOTHER TOP RETAILER TO IOWA

WEST DES MOINES ? July 29, 2004 ? Iowa?s newest and largest retail resort just continues to get better. General Growth Properties, Inc. today announces that Ann Taylor will join approximately 125 retailers and restaurants at Jordan Creek Town Center in 2005.

"Ann Taylor Loft, a sister concept of Ann Taylor, was announced last spring. We are so pleased to also offer Ann Taylor at Jordan Creek Town Center," said Ron Den Adel, vice president of development for General Growth Properties.
Ann Taylor is a premier American specialty apparel retailer for professional women. During the company?s 50-year history, it has become known for quality suites, separates, dresses, shoes and accessories in an updated classic style. Its collections coordinate head-to-toe and from season-to-season, allowing clients to build their wardrobes from year to year.

The brand is marketed under two divisions, Ann Taylor and Ann Taylor Loft. Both divisions will open stores at Jordan Creek Town Center. The Ann Taylor Loft collections are designed for value-conscious women with a more relaxed lifestyle both at home and at work. Ann Taylor caters to successful, affluent women who are fashion-conscious about their professional wardrobes and prefer stylish, coordinated looks for their leisure activities. Ann Taylor is schedule to open to the public in the Spring of 2005.

?Ann Taylor is just a sample of the good things still to come for Jordan Creek Town Center in the coming months,? adds Den Adel.

***They are just teasing us!!!!! LOL***

Jordan Creek Town Center is a $200-million, 200-acre retail, dining, entertainment and recreation development. The two-million-square-foot project includes: a two-level enclosed mall featuring a streetscape design; a three acre lake surrounded by quality restaurants, a hotel and amphitheater; as well as a village that will be a collection of large and small retailers in an open-air lifestyle design. For more information about the Jordan Creek Town Center, visit http://www.jordancreektowncenter.com.

General Growth Properties is the country?s second largest shopping center owner, manager and developer. General Growth currently has ownership interest in, or management responsibility for, a portfolio of 177 regional shopping malls in 41 states. The company portfolio totals approximately 153-million square feet of retail space and includes over 16,000 retailers nationwide. The third largest U.S-based publicly traded Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT), General Growth Properties is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol GGP. For more information on General Growth Properties and its portfolio of malls, please visit the company Web site at http://www.generalgrowth.com.

[sokkerdewd]

I hate to be the one to dampen expectations, but Nordstrom's expansion plans seem to be pretty well laid-out. From their website, a listing of new/planned locations through 2008:

http://about.nordstrom.com/ourstores/op ... enings.asp

Wondering exactly when and where the next Nordstrom store is opening? Here's a list of all stores (including our Nordstrom Rack stores) slated to be opened from now until the year 2008.


Opening Dates | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008


2004

Charlotte, NC - SouthPark Mall
Opening Date: March 12

Miami, FL - Dadeland Mall
Opening Date: November 12




2005

Atlanta, GA - Phipps Plaza
Opening Date: Spring

Dallas, TX - NorthPark Center
Opening Date: Fall

San Antonio, TX - The Shops at La Cantera
Opening Date: Fall

Irvine, CA - Irvine Spectrum Center
Opening Date: Fall




2006

Canoga Park, CA - Westfield Shoppingtown Topanga (Relocation)
Opening Date: Spring

Palm Beach Gardens, FL - The Gardens Mall
Opening Date: Spring




2007

Thousand Oaks, CA - The Oaks Shopping Center
Opening Date: Fall

Natick, MA - Natick Mall
Opening Date: Spring




2008

Honolulu, HI - Ala Moana Center
Opening Date: Spring

[Ingersoll1978]

Remember...those are the announced new stores. Hopefully Des Moines will be on that list soon!

[DMRyan]

Went to check out Dillard's and Scheels today since they opened early. The mall is absolutely incredible in the amount of detail they put into the interior design. The insert telling all about the mall that came in the 8/1/04 edition of the Register talks about fossil patterns etched in the marble flooring, stained glass windows and a waterfall in the center court.

Here's a few photos from the Register:










All the articles you'll ever need about this project can be found here:
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/p ... OWN_CENTER

[DMRyan]

More JCTC photos from the Omaha World Herald:

North Entrance


Century Theaters


Store


Ugly leaf decorations hanging from the ceiling


Lake and Restaurants


Residence Inn


Artwork

[NOG]

I also checked out Dillard's and Scheel's today. Even got a few peeks of the mall when they were moving the curtains that covered the store entrances to the mall. It really is quite an impressive facility. I really enjoyed Scheels, maybe a little to much, I walked out a little poorer.

[Des Moineser]

I noticed the mall has vertical spotlights, and all i have say is the neighbors of that will hate it, like my neighbors on the other end of the townhouse I live in. Plus all the traffic is going to be harsh. When I moved from Waterloo to here, Dallas County-side WDM was a few large farms. Putting this into prospective: in 1988 West Des Moines was 23,000 strong, and I wasn't born yet. When I moved here ('97), I think it was like 35,000, now it's over 50,000, the growth is huge, and I'm thinking that the traffic of all the those people coming home, mixed with mall traffic, is going to make the evening commute a gut-renching agony.

[NewHtsDSM]

No question about it, Des Moineser. I live near 60th St in WDM and I have already seen big increases since Scheels and Dillard's opened.

EP True Pkway is usually very quiet on weekends, but was very busy on Saturday. They really need to get lights in at 60th and EP True or there will be problems. Oh well, the price of growth.

[jhuston]

Scheel's is a very cool store. The high school apparel section is as big as the clothing sections in general of most other sporting goods stores.

So what kind of interesting center piece do they have in the Jordan Creek store?

[Ingersoll1978]

The signature tree! LOL The ferris wheel they put in Omaha's is pretty cool.

[DMRyan]

It was said on the news that General Growth estimated over 134,000 people visited the mall on its opening day. This exceeded expectations of 100,000. With the tax holiday weekend coming up, this place will be a zoo this weekend.

[NOG]

Very impressive, I heard a story on WHO radio this afternoon of a gentleman who works for the post office. When he got off his shift at 4:00 A.M. this morning he went to JCTC and got in line. He was not alone and this is a full six hours before the mall opened. They had entertainment lined up at 6:00 A.M for the people waiting, a full four hours before it opened. If anyone had any doubt about Des Moines' ability to support an upscale mall, I am sure those doubts can be laid to rest.