The Shops at Grand River sign Gymboree, Gap

Though it's not opening for another year, there's an excited buzz around Birmingham while the entire area anticipates The Shops at Grand River- a $127 million dollar outlet mall, rivaling the ones seen at popular tourist destinations. The 6,500 acre development is planned to start with 330,000 square feet of retail and dining space in the fall of 2010 and expand shortly thereafter to 500,000 square feet.

The property announced an impressive line up this week, including Gymboree, Gap, Carters, Osh Kosh, Brooks Brothers, Jones New York, Banana Republic and Tommy Hilfiger. It is rumored that 27 others have signed on and 30 other retailers are in negotiations.

This mall is definitely one to watch! Happy shopping to all our friends in B-ham!

Talk about this on our board or Facebook!

-The FMC Team

2 New Gymbos set to Open

Those of you following Gymboree on Facebook already know that the new store at Legacy Place in Dedham, Ma. is opening Saturday, August 15th! What you might not know is that another Gymboree location is also opening this month! On Wednesday, August 26th, the Valley Mall location in Yakima, Wa. will be opening!

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Happy Shopping!

-The FMC Team

Gymboree to open at Northgate Mall

Gymboree is one of a handful of retailers set to open this November in the Northgate Mall in Terra Linda, Ca. The 725,000 square foot property is undergoing a $75 mil renovation that owners Macerich Co. of Santa Monica hope will reinvent the property.

Also set to open: H&M, The Children's Place and Kohls. No details have been set yet as to a firm date or any grand opening celebrations.

This information courtesy of The Contra Costa Times. For more information, or to chat about Gymboree, Janie & Jack, MiniBoden and Matilda Jane, join our discussion forum at fashionmomcafe.net!

Crazy8 Coming to the UK via Adams Kids Stores...

UK children's clothing retailer Adams Kids has had a long, public battle to stay alive. In 2007, landlords seized the company's stock to cover unpaid rent. In 2008, they were on a short list of suspected High Street retailers to go under. Now, in 2009, news comes that they are converting 2 of thier stores into Crazy8s in the fall.

Representatives of both Gymboree and Adams Kids are denying reports that the two stores are to test the concept before Gymbo offers a complete take over, but the implications are there. Gymboree is known for being agressive in their store openings, but it is understandable that they would want to be a little more conservative in this venture. Gymboree has previously pulled completely out of the UK and Ireland markets due to poor sales. This time around, the attempt is not with the tried and true Gymboree brand, but with Crazy8- a label that doesn't yet have footing in the US.

One thing is for certain- American children's retailers are targeting the UK. It was only last month that Gap announced an agressive push into the UK market with both retail and outlet stores. Prior to that, Gap also inked a deal with Asos to provide their merchandise to the UK. Best of luck to both retailers.

Happy Shopping!

-The FMC Team

Crazy 8 coming to West Virginia

Crazy8 is coming to Barboursville, West Virginia. The first Crazy8 in the state will open in the Huntington Mall in mid-August of this year. The store will occupy the former spaces of two tennants- Easy Spirit and Teddy Bear Stuffers.

P.S. by Aeropostale Launches!

A few months ago, FMC reported that Aeropostale was working on a new concept called P.S. (for "Pint Sized". P.S. has now launched with the first store opening in West Nyack, New York. The store targets 7-12 year olds and boasts full-length mirrors with cameras built in. Tweens can take pictures of themselves which are instantly displayed on screens within the store.

Though West Nyack is the only location currently open, the company is set to open 12 more in the near future, including 7 in New Jersey, 2 more in New York, 1 in Connecticut, 1 in California and 1 at the Mall of America in Minnesota.

The website http://www.ps4u.com/ though live, is not currently offering online ordering. It does however host a Lookbook for Fall fashions, which features the Fall standards of brown, orange and grey, but intersperses outfits of bright blue and a subdued light green.

Company spokespeople are quick to say that P.S. is not a "test concept", but a full on division, and with good reason: the company recently closed their 11 Jimmy'Z concept stores- a division geared toward shoppers in their late teens and early twenties. And though Abercrombie & Fitch is closing their long struggling Ruehl (which targeted the same demographic as P.S.), Aeropostale expects to achieve success in the market by going after market share from Crewcuts and Abercrombie for Kids.

For more discussion of P.S., please join us on our forum by going to http://www.fashionmomcafe.com/fmcforums or clicking the "Forum" button at the top of this page.

Happy Shopping!

-The FMC Team

New Gymboree to open in Raleigh

FMC has learned that Gymbo Corporation plans to open a  new Gymboree store at Triangle Town Center in Raleigh sometime this Fall. While few details are known, the new store will be occupying the former Aerosoles store that recently closed after expiration of it's lease. The store is a smaller, narrow space upstairs in the Belk Courtyard. 

Other tennants of the mall include Baby Gap, Pottery Barn Baby, GapKids, abercrombie, The Children's Place and Strasburg Children.

New Gymbo Outlet to Open in Monroe, OH

Cincinnati Premium Outlets has announced the opening more than a dozen retailers and three eateries when the mall opens Thursday, August 6th. The shopping center will hold a job fair on June 6th to fill the more than 800 spots for employment. 

Among the tennants slated for opening are Gymboree Outlet, BCBG, Cole Haan, Hugo Boss, Le Creuset, Naturalizer and Nike. 

A Gaggle of Store Openings Announced

Silver Sands Outlet Mall in Sandestin, FL has annouced the first Gymboree Outlet in nothern Florida is set to open May 9th. The store is set to open near a new Restoration Hardware Clearance Center. 

A Gymboree retail store is also set to open at The Summit in Louisville, Ky this Summer. Few details are known other than it will located next to the Ann Taylor Loft. 

In Palm Springs, Ca. plans have been dramatically downsized for the El Paseo Village shopping center. The mall will now be one story instead of two and square footage will be cut by about 30,000 sq ft. Retailers are still on board for the Fall of 2010 opening- including Janie & Jack, Banana Republic and Lucky Brand Jeans.

New Crazy 8 To Open in Raleigh

Crabtree Valley Mall in Raleigh, NC has announced that a new Crazy 8 store will be opening on the lower level (near Belk) sometime this Summer. The mall is also debuting a new Lego Store the final weekend of May. The Lego grand opening will include a Master Builder constructing an 8 ft. Yoda from Star Wars.

Source: The News & Observer

If You're in Dallas Today...

You should head over to the opening day party for the new Children's Place flagship store at Park Lane. Park Lane is touted as a 33.5 acre, mixed-use development with more than 700,000 square feet of retail, restaurant and entertainment space.

The Children's Place 20,000 square foot flagship store will open today to much fanfare including balloons and face painting for the kiddos. The Children's Place is also offering 40% off their already reduced Spring merchandise in all stores and online!

To discuss the Children's Place, store openings, sales and coupons, check in with the FMC forums located at http://www.fashionmomcafe.com/fmcforums

Happy Shopping!

-The FMC Team

The Children's Place to Open Store in Troubled Alexandria Mall

In a leap of faith, The Children's Place has announced it will be opening a new store in the Alexandria Mall in in Alexandria, LA. While the mall has done well and recently opened a new JC Penney, it is managed by General Growth Properties which has voluntarilly filed for protection under Chapter 11 bankrupcy. 

Though companies affiliated with the Alexandria Mall are facing tough times, the mall continues to be one of the top performing centers in Louisiana. 

The Children's Place store is already under construction and set to open in time for back-to-school shopping. 

Happy Shopping!

-The FMC Team

Gap Opening at Dundrum Town Centre

Dundrum Town Centre, Irelands largest shopping complex has announced this week that Gap is among 7 new retailers to join thier lineup. The new stores are expected to create more than 100 jobs. 

Gymboree and Gap to open Outlets in Sparks, NV

The Legends Outlet Center is set to Open June 18th in Sparks, NV. Gymboree and Gap are set to open stores among such Outlet staples as Carters, Skechers and Osh Kosh. Other retailers joining the center include Off 5th, Banana Republic, Jones New York, Best Buy and Target. 

The Legends at Sparks Marina is a $1.2 billion destination retail and entertainment center encompassing more than 1 million square feet along 140 acres at the Sparks Marina. Events to mark the grand opening include a Summer Concert Series, fashion show, celebrity appearances and fireworks.

Happy Shopping!

Gymbo Outlet Opening in Vero Beach, Fl Today

This from tcpalm:
VERO BEACH — Vero Fashion Outlets announces the opening of Gymboree Outlet on Thursday.
The 2,218-square-foot store is between Ultra Diamonds and Bose. Vero Fashion Outlets is on State Road 60, west of Interstate 95 in Vero Beach.

P.S. by Aeropostale Coming to a Tween Near You!

While many companies are narrowing their scope in this difficult economic climate, Aeropostale stands out as something different. This Summer, Aeropostale is expanding their base to include a new concept: P.S. - The same Aeropostale forumla geared toward the tween set (ages 7-12).

Says Chairman and CEO Julian Geiger "We have watched with amazement for years [the way] moms would come to Aeropostale with an older and a younger sibling, with the younger sibling desperately trying to fit into the merchandise that was obviously too big for them. We are expanding and extending all of the things we've done well for the high school student to the elementary school student. We are enormously focused on this."

The company expects to open 10 stores this year.

For the full story, please see MediaPost.com

New Gymboree Outlet to Open in Fremont, IN

A brand-new Gymboree Outlet is set to open March 1st at The Outlet Shoppes at Fremont, in Fremont, Indiana. The shop can be found next door to The Chilren's Place Outlet.

Janie & Jack Coming to Greenwich, CT.

Changes are happening on Greenwich Ave. Retailers are coming and going. Among those coming is Janie & Jack, which will be located at 360 Greenwich Ave. The store is slated to open March 12, 2009.

Happy Shopping!
-The FMC Team