HEARTLAND SNAPSHOT, SEPTEMBER 2008

Wichita, Kansas

Commercial development in Wichita is continuing at a rapid clip during 2008. On the retail front, a number of local developers are expanding their current offerings, and bringing new national retailers to the Wichita market.

The Slawson Companies is initiating the first phase of its NewMarket Square shopping center in northwest Wichita. The 270,000-square-foot first phase opened in 2001 with Wal-Mart Supercenter, Bed, Bath & Beyond, Borders Books & Music, and Old Navy as anchors. Throughout the past several years, additional big box and national restaurants have joined the tenant roster, including Super Target, Sports Authority, On The Border, Olive Garden, TGI Friday’s, Granite City Food & Brewery, and Applebee’s.

A new phase is in the works on the heels of the recent openings of two new retailers, PetCo and Pei Wei Asian Diner, which brings the center to 705,000 square feet. The  new 120,000-square-foot phase is kicking off with the construction of a 30,000-square-foot Best Buy. According to Jerry Jones, vice president of commercial development for The Slawson Companies, other deals are in the works for the new square footage, which will bring the center to a total size of 825,000 square feet.

Laham Development has been busy this year, developing space for new retailers, office tenants and hospitality concepts throughout its new and existing centers in Wichita.

Barnes & Noble recently opened a 28,500-square-foot store within Bradley Square in northeast Wichita, Kansas.

The company’s 280,000-square-foot lifestyle center along 21st Street in northeast Wichita, Bradley Square, brought in a 28,500-square-foot Barnes & Noble store in the spring, and Gymboree has signed a lease to open a 2,440-square-foot store this fall.

Laham has added new components to its Regency Lakes shopping center, which is also located along 21st Street. KANZA Bank and a Hampton Inn & Suites are both under construction within the 400,000-square-foot center, which is anchored by a 175,000-square-foot Super Target and a 20,000-square-foot World Market. KANZA Bank is expected to open early next year, and the 102-room Hampton hotel is targeting a spring 2009 opening.

A new hotel is being developed in the Plazzio shopping center, which is anchored by the Warren Theatre and the Alley Indoor Entertainment Center.

The developer is adding a second hotel to its entertainment center at 13th Street and Greenwich Road. Plazzio is anchored by the 20-screen Warren Theatre and a 60,000-square-foot Alley Indoor Entertainment Center. A SpringHill Suites by Marriott is being developed, joining an existing 91-suite Marriott Residence Inn Hotel. The SpringHill Suites, along with three new restaurants, is expected to open in 2009.

Finally, at Laham’s newest development, Berkeley Square, the company is developing a mix of office, residential and retail space. The 95-acre property, which Laham is co-developing with Devlin Enterprises, is also situated along 13th Street and Greenwich Road adjacent to The Waterfront.

The development will include a 250,000-square-foot, Class A office park; 130,000 square feet of retail and a 55-acre residential component from Ritchie Development.

The first building, a 44,000-square-foot headquarters building for Hartman Oil Co., will be complete this month.

At 13th Street and Webb Road, The Waterfront continues to add office and retail space, including at the Lakeside at the Waterfront office development, which features 100,000 square feet spread across three buildings.

Major tenants include law firms Stinson Morrison Hecker LLP and Adams Jones Law Firm PA, along with Keller Williams Realty. The third building will be home to accounting company Kennedy and Coe LLC.

©2008 France Publications, Inc. Duplication or reproduction of this article not permitted without authorization from France Publications, Inc. For information on reprints of this article contact Barbara Sherer at (630) 554-6054.