Arborland Center

Arborland Center is a shopping center located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States. It opened in 1961 as Ann Arbor's first suburban mall and initially operated as an unenclosed retail complex. Its original anchor lineup included JCPenney, Kresge, Kroger, and Montgomery Ward, reflecting the department-store and general-merchandise format common to early suburban shopping centers. The center faced increasing competition after Briarwood Mall opened in Ann Arbor in 1973. JCPenney relocated to Briarwood, and Arborland subsequently lost a number of tenants during the late 1970s. E.N. Maisel & Associates acquired the property in 1980, enclosed its previously open-air concourses, and replaced the vacant JCPenney location with Crowley's. The enclosure and tenant changes did not reverse the center's decline, and additional occupants, including Montgomery Ward, Sibley's Shoes, and Pearle Vision, departed in the early 1980s. Melvin Simon & Associates, now associated with Simon Property Group, acquired the property during this period and undertook another major repositioning. In 1983, the company converted Arborland toward a discount and outlet-oriented retail model. The change required the closure of Crowley's because the department store was not compatible with the new format. Simon added more than 45 stores and introduced tenants such as Burlington Coat Factory, Service Merchandise, F&M, Toys "R" Us, and Marshalls, as well as a food court. At the time of Simon's purchase, the center reportedly had only 13 tenants, making the expansion a substantial redevelopment effort. A further transformation occurred in the late 1990s under Freed and Associates. Most of the enclosed mall structure was demolished in a process commonly described as de-malling, and the property was rebuilt as a power center composed largely of freestanding or separately configured large-format retail buildings. Toys "R" Us was reconstructed, while the Marshalls building and the former F&M building, later occupied by OfficeMax, were retained. This redevelopment shifted Arborland away from the traditional enclosed-mall model and toward a convenience- and anchor-driven shopping-center format. The property was reportedly acquired by Freed for approximately $6 million and was being marketed for more than $100 million by 2005. It was subsequently sold to AmCap through a joint venture with Los Angeles-based Hart Realty Advisers for a reported $102 million. The center encompasses approximately 409,000 square feet. Its later tenant mix included national apparel, pet-supply, grocery, beauty, furniture, home-goods, and discount retailers. Listed anchor and major tenants have included Marshalls, Petco, Kroger, Ulta, Old Navy, Gardner-White Furniture, and Bed Bath & Beyond, with Gardner-White occupying space formerly associated with Toys "R" Us. Tenant occupancy has changed over time, and the property should be understood as a retail real-estate asset rather than a conventional consumer-products brand.

Arborland Center opened in 1961 in Ann Arbor, Michigan, as the city's first suburban shopping mall. Unlike a conventional enclosed mall, the original center had open-air concourses and was anchored by JCPenney, Kresge, Kroger, and Montgomery Ward. Its development reflected the early expansion of suburban retail around Ann Arbor. The center's competitive position weakened after Briarwood Mall opened in 1973. JCPenney moved to the newer mall, and Arborland experienced further tenant departures through the late 1970s. E.N. Maisel & Associates purchased Arborland in 1980 and enclosed the former open-air walkways. The company also replaced the empty JCPenney location with Crowley's, but the renovation did not prevent continued attrition. Montgomery Ward, Sibley's Shoes, and Pearle Vision were among the retailers reported to have left in early 1983. Melvin Simon & Associates subsequently acquired the property and pursued a substantial format change. In 1983, Arborland was repositioned around discount and outlet retail. Crowley's was closed because its department-store format did not fit the revised strategy. Simon added more than 45 stores, including Burlington Coat Factory, Service Merchandise, F&M, Toys "R" Us, and Marshalls, and established a food court. The redevelopment represented a shift from traditional department-store anchoring to value-oriented, high-volume retail. During the late 1990s, Freed and Associates acquired the center and undertook an even more fundamental redevelopment. Most of the enclosed mall was demolished, while selected structures were retained or rebuilt. Toys "R" Us received a new building, and the Marshalls building and former F&M building remained. The resulting property was a big-box cluster or power center rather than an enclosed regional mall. This de-malling strategy was intended to make the asset more efficient and attractive to large-format tenants. Freed reportedly purchased the property for about $6 million. By 2005, the owner was said to be seeking more than $100 million, and the property was sold to AmCap through a joint venture with Hart Realty Advisers for a reported $102 million. The center was described as containing approximately 409,000 square feet. Tenant changes continued after the power-center conversion. Borders closed its Arborland store in April 2011, and the space was later divided between Five Below and Ulta. Nordstrom Rack was confirmed in 2013 for space previously occupied by Circuit City. Other listed major tenants have included Kroger, Petco, Old Navy, Gardner-White Furniture, Marshalls, and Bed Bath & Beyond. Gardner-White occupied space formerly associated with Toys "R" Us. Arborland's history therefore illustrates the successive transformation of American suburban retail properties from open-air malls, to enclosed malls, to discount centers, and finally to big-box power centers.

• 2013

  Nordstrom Rack is confirmed

  [1]Arborland Centeren.wikipedia.org

  Nordstrom Rack is announced for the former Circuit City space.

• 2011

  Borders closes

  [1]Arborland Centeren.wikipedia.org

  The Borders location closes in April, creating a large vacancy later divided between Five Below and Ulta.

• 2005

  AmCap and Hart Realty Advisers acquire the center

  [1]Arborland Centeren.wikipedia.org

  The approximately 409,000-square-foot property changes hands in a reported $102 million transaction.

• 1998

  Major de-malling redevelopment

  [1]Arborland Centeren.wikipedia.org

  Freed and Associates razes most of the enclosed mall and transforms Arborland into a big-box power center.

• 1983

  Discount-center repositioning begins

  [1]Arborland Centeren.wikipedia.org

  Melvin Simon & Associates converts the property toward discount and outlet retail, adds more than 45 stores, and introduces a food court.

• 1980

  E.N. Maisel & Associates acquires Arborland

  [1]Arborland Centeren.wikipedia.org

  The new owner encloses the center and replaces the former JCPenney store with Crowley's.

• 1973

  Briarwood Mall opens

  [1]Arborland Centeren.wikipedia.org

  The opening of the larger Briarwood Mall increases competitive pressure, and JCPenney relocates from Arborland.

• 1961

  Arborland Center opens

  [1]Arborland Centeren.wikipedia.org

  Arborland opens as Ann Arbor's first suburban shopping mall, operating with open-air concourses and several major anchor stores.

A locally significant, tenant-driven shopping center positioned around large-format, discount, grocery, specialty, and home-related retail. Its modern identity is rooted in the conversion from an enclosed suburban mall to a power-center format.

• Shopping center · 1961

  Retail leasing and shopping-center services

  Arborland Center's core offering is access to a multi-tenant retail environment rather than a manufactured consumer product. The property provides space for national and regional retailers serving grocery, apparel, beauty, pet, furniture, home, and discount-shopping needs. Its power-center design emphasizes large-format stores, convenient vehicle access, and destination visits to individual anchors.

• 2005

  Sale to AmCap and Hart Realty AdvisersM&A

  Background

  Freed and Associates had reportedly acquired the property at a substantially lower price and later sought a buyer.

  Action taken

  AmCap acquired Arborland through a joint venture with Hart Realty Advisers.

  Aftermath

  The transaction placed the redeveloped retail center under new ownership.

  Reported acquisition price. $102 million (2005)

  Source

• 1998

  Conversion from enclosed mall to power centerStrategy

  Background

  The enclosed-mall format had become less effective for the property, prompting a more radical redevelopment under Freed and Associates.

  Action taken

  Most of the mall structure was demolished, selected buildings were retained or rebuilt, and the site was reorganized around big-box retail.

  Aftermath

  Arborland became a power-center-style retail complex rather than a traditional enclosed shopping mall.

  Source

• 1983

  Shift to discount and outlet retailStrategy

  Background

  Arborland had lost tenants after competition from Briarwood Mall and reportedly had only 13 tenants when Melvin Simon & Associates became involved.

  Action taken

  The operator closed Crowley's, added more than 45 stores, introduced discount and outlet anchors, and created a food court.

  Aftermath

  The property gained a substantially larger tenant base and adopted a value-oriented retail identity.

  Source

1. 1Arborland Centeren.wikipedia.org