New retailers sign up at The Domain

Austin Business Journal - 2:56 PM CST Wednesday

As its March opening rapidly approaches, more upscale retailers begin to emerge at The Domain.
Anne Fontaine, Lacoste and Lily Pulitzer are joining an already long list of fashion retailers, including Intermix, Barneys Co-Op, Betty Sport, BCBG Max Azria and Calypso Christiane Celle.
"We are thrilled to bring these fine retail stores to Austin," says Kathleen Shields, vice president of development for Simon Property Group Inc. (NYSE: SPG), which is developing the project. "With such a remarkable collection of chic and elegant retail stores, The Domain will be a high fashion destination not only for Austin, but for all of Central Texas."
Anne Fontaine first opened in Paris in 1994. The designer women's apparel store has expanded to 12 states across the country. This is the company's third Texas store following one each in Dallas and Houston.
Since opening as a men's sportswear store in 1933, Lacoste has expanded to 800 boutiques and 2,000 mall locations worldwide. Today the retailer offers a wide range of clothing, footwear, fragrances and home textiles.
Meanwhile the Lilly Pulitzer line of women's apparel is in more than 70 of the retailer's signature shops, company-owned stores and department stores nationwide.
Anchored by Neiman Marcus and Macy's, the 650,000-square-foot first phase of The Domain is scheduled to open in March. The initial phase, which is already 93 percent leased, will include 60 different retailers and 14 restaurants. The 50,000-square-foot second phase will come online sometime in late 2008 with additional retail and three more restaurants.
Restaurants already announced in the first phase include Kona Grill, Jasper's, California Pizza Kitchen and The Steeping Room. Other components will include a large-scale bookstore and small community-style grocery.
Other components of The Domain project include 75,000 square feet of Class A office space and 390 apartment units being developed Columbus Realty Partners Ltd.
The Austin office of real estate company Transwestern is handling the leasing of the office space and Lincoln Property Co. is marketing the apartments.