DMM Retail Industry e-News Issue #211

Yee-hah! Nashville to Get New Entertainment, Retail and Office/Residential Complex

Already known for its massive contributions to the music industry, a new multi-use development in Nashville will feature a new entertainment complex, shopping, restaurants, a cineplex, office space and three residential towers. The owner and developer of Nashville Yards, Southwest Value Partners, and Anschutz Entertainment Group, recently announced a joint venture to co-develop the planned entertainment district and concert venue. That’s according to News 4 Nashville (NBC), which reported that construction is expected to begin early next year. “Nashville is the perfect location to develop the next great entertainment district in one of the most important music and entertainment centers of our country. Nashville Yards will bring together the core urban elements that make the city so unique and create a true destination where Nashvillians and visitors can live, work, and play together,” said Ted Tanner, executive Vice President Real Estate, AEG. Nashville Yards includes the 591-room luxury Grand Hyatt Nashville, Amazon Nashville’s two office towers comprising more than one million square feet, a 650,000 square foot, multi-tenant office tower, a 1.3-acre park, multiple green spaces and plazas, and additional retail, restaurant, and residential buildings.

Brookfield Properties Swaps New Reality for Augmented Reality

Just when we thought there was a new normal, along came the pandemic. Restrictions have been loosened and malls are seeing life again, and shoppers are waking up to a new reality, which seems to change more than the light bulbs in a light bulb testing facility. Now, mall operator Brookfield Properties wants to bring “augmented reality” to its facilities nationwide. According to a recent article by Chain Store Age, the Aria Network has an agreement with Brookfield to provide “endemic and non-endemic advertising” using AR technology. CSA’s senior technology editor, Dan Berthiaume, noted this means shoppers could use the cell phones to interact with content, such as a virtual mall directory or immersive retail displays, pay for items touch-free, and more. “Brookfield Properties is always seeking new, innovative experiences for our guests, and we know our shopping center communities will embrace this new offering,” said Patrick Pechous, Brookfield Properties senior director of strategic partnerships.

Want the Newest Lotus or Polestar Cars? Check ‘em Out at the Mall

Your friendly, humble, e-newsletter editor drives a minivan. It’s a Toyota Sienna with 214,000 miles on it. It runs well, gets the job done, a great value overall – it’s served the family well. Why is this important? Because yours truly is in the market for a new vehicle. Stop number one: the Moda Mall shopping complex in Manama, capital city of the Kingdom of Bahrain. That’s where the new Emira sports car, likely the last gas-powered Lotus vehicle, is going to be sold. According to Automotive World, the first Lotus showroom in the world featuring the brand’s new retail identity is now open for business. “The inherent flexibility of what we have created will be perfect for all environments, whether they’re solus or multi-franchise, urban or out-of-town, high street or shopping mall, single or multi-story, pop-up, seasonal or permanent,” said Lotus’ Geoff Dowding, Executive Director, Sales and Aftersales. Perhaps your friendly e-newsletter instead will check out EV manufacturer Polestar, which is opening new Spaces retail locations, some in malls, and various retail popups, with no-hassle vehicle-viewing in-store, with sales taking place online. According to Forbes, it’s the EV-upstart’s attempt to move in where Tesla is starting to move its mall retail locations out. Regardless, the auto industry’s moves in and around the malls is electrifying.