Construction starts today for the Nordstrom wing at St. Johns Town Center.
The wing, on the southwest end of the property between Louis Vuitton and Brooks Brothers, is expected to open in fall 2014.
Developers Simon Property Group and Ben Carter Properties said the wing, the center's Phase III, will encompass more than 158,000 square feet of retail space.
In addition to Nordstrom, the wing will include an estimated eight stores totaling about 34,000 square feet of space. The stores will be announced later this year.
Center General Manager Angela Crowder said national and local retailers have committed to the new phase and many will be new to the market.
Also, almost 600 parking spaces will be added. The new parking areas are planned between Ethan Allen and Ovinte; along Big Island Drive; and in the east parking lot. The areas will open in phases between October and Nov. 15.
In addition, St. Johns Town Center said the valet program, provided by AmeriPark, has been streamlined. Shoppers and diners can pay by credit card and can text or email ahead for vehicle retrieval to a more convenient valet station. The cost is $6 for all-day parking at four valet stations on the property.
The program kicks off at St. Johns Town Center before being launched nationwide at other Simon properties where AmeriPark operates valet parking.
St. Johns Town Center will continue to offer the parking lot shuttle service, Thursday through Sunday, to take shoppers from surrounding parking lots to stores and restaurants.
Through its partnership with Checker Cab Co., St. Johns Town Center also has two permanent taxi stands on the property. One is near the Phase III construction area.
St. Johns Town Center will share Phase III updates through StJohnsTownCenter.com, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter at @StJohnsTownCtr.
St. Johns Town Center is a 1.2 million-square-foot retail and restaurant center at Butler Boulevard and the Interstate 295 East Beltway. It has 11 anchor stores and more than 175 specialty stores and restaurants.
Simon Property Group is based in Indianapolis and owns or has an ownership interest in 326 retail real estate properties in North America and Asia.
Atlanta-based Ben Carter Properties LLC, now known as Ben Carter Enterprises, has developed more than $1.1 billion, and nearly 5 million square feet, of retail and office projects since it was formed in 1993.
Max Marbut
Staff Writer
Bailey Publishing & Communications
904-356-2466 ext. 1019