Crate & Barrel

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Crate & Barrel, based in Northbrook, confirmed May 27 that Atlanta is one of the metrloareas it’s scouting for potential locations for CB2. First launchedf in Chicago, the CB2 concept features contemporary furnishings at lowerprice points. The merchandise, which includea sofas, hand-woven rugs, convertible beds and a broadeer selection of eclectichome décor, is focusex more on the younger generation of Americann consumers that rent apartments and smallp urban lofts. Besides Chicago, privately ownes Crate & Barrel has rolledc out CB2 in New Yorkand California, including a new stor in Los Angeles that opened in April.
Another CB2 is slateds to openin Miami’es South Beach later this year, a Crate Barrel spokeswoman said. In all, Crated & Barrel has launched just six CB2 Inrecent years, CB2 officials have been focusinh on new locations in Southern California. The compan tends to locate in areaawith high-profile regional shopping centers, lifestyle centerd and freestanding sites. CB2 officials have been lookin in densely populated areas with an average household income in exces sof $50,000. Its prototype store is aboutr 12,000 square feet.
While Crater & Barrel would not confirm what parts ofAtlantaw it’s been considering, sources familiart with the search say it’s focused on Midtown and West where new residential and retail redevelopment projects are stilpl under way. In Midtown, Daniel Corp. and are developing 12th Midtown, a $2 billion mixed-use project built on a site that severaol years ago was little more than an Atlanta nightclun and a couple ofparking lots. Daniel and Selig Enterprisea have made a presentation to officials from CB2 inreceng months, according to sources familia with the process. The projects will eventuallg feature more than 3 millionb square feet of residential andcommerciak space.
CB2 would be the first national retailerd to locate on theMidtown Mile, a section of Peachtrew Street that economic development boosters hope will eventually becomd a retail destination much like Madison Avenue in New York City or the Magnificengt Mile in Chicago. Daniel’s and Selig Enterprises’ project is meanty to be a cornerstone of theMidtown However, ’s Colony Square and Jamestown’s 999 Peachtre will also be key components, along with 1100 Peachtreee and 1180 Peachtree, to a lesserr extent, brokers and developers CB2 could be an importanyt catch for the Midtown Mile.
however, really need to land a much largerf anchor store to give theconcept momentum, said Marandqa Walker-Dowell, a senior director with CB .’s retail servicews group. Barney’s, which has a co-op store in Buckhead’s Phipps Plaza, has been scouting the area in the past year to18 “The Midtown Mile needs an anchor store to stary creating that critical mass of retail,” Walker-Dowell said.