RED Development

Red Partnerships

Schussler Creative Inc, the Twin Cities based founder of Rain Forest Café and other entertainment attractions, and RED Development, a premier U. S. developer of retail lifestyle centers and destination developments, have announced a partnership that will take destination dining, shopping and entertainment to a new level.

"This strategic partnership allows us to align with the nation’s top creator of destination attractions to simultaneously place amazing concepts in our developments as well as those of other top developers," according to Dan Lowe, managing partner at RED Development. "We will begin announcing locations for these new venues very soon."

Opus Northwest had embarked on developing Minnesota’s first lifestyle center in Maple Grove, a suburb of Minneapolis. With a long and successful history of commercial development, Opus was seeking a partner to assist with the leasing of this upscale retail center. At the suggestion of one of the national retailers, Opus contacted RED about forming a joint venture and a successful partnership was born.

Through leasing and tenant improvement, RED was able focus its efforts on the strong tenant relationships it had formed in several other projects. Prior to the September 2004 grand opening, The Shoppes at Arbor Lakes was able to announce one of the strongest lifestyle tenant line-ups in the country. Uniquely targeted to several markets, The Shoppes at Arbor Lakes features an impressive juniors line-up, with the likes of Abercrombie & Fitch, American Eagle Outfitters, maurices, Buckle and Pacific Sunwear; women’s fashions highlighted by anthropolgie, J. Jill, White House Black Market, Coldwater Creek and Victoria’s Secret; lifestyle and home goods featuring Pottery Barn, Williams-Sonoma, Smith & Hawken and Kirkland’s; plus top restaurants like P.F. Chang’s, Granite City and California Pizza Kitchen.

RED’s tenant improvement team, led by Dustin Cleveland, worked through a tough winter and tight construction schedule to deliver tenant spaces on time. With Opus, 400,000 square feet of retail was delivered, varying in size from a 32,000-square-foot Ultimate to 5,000 intricately designed square feet for local retailer Goodthings. At each step, RED worked with the tenant, the tenant’s contractor and the project’s general contractor to ensure each tenant space met the standards of the center, and of the joint venture’s expectations. After The Shoppes at Arbor Lakes opened, a top executive for one of the nation’s leading hard-goods retailers called The Shoppes at Arbor Lakes “one of the top lifestyle centers in the country.”

Building on this success, Opus and RED have partnered to bring Minnesota its second lifestyle center – Woodbury Lakes – in Woodbury, Minn. Opened in the fall of 2005, Woodbury Lakes again melds the strengths of these two partners to create an unique shopping experience.

The metropolitan Madison, Wisconsin area is educated and affluent, and residents were underserved by the current retail and restaurant offerings. Retailers across the country had strong interest in the market, and were in need of a new, unique retail offering. The local owners of the land, Greenway Properties, were seeking a retail development partner to complement the commercial offerings in the area. Greenway Station presented an optimal opportunity for RED Development, LLC, to bring the first lifestyle center to Wisconsin.

Planning for the project began in 1999, and from the onset RED and Greenway Properties forged a strong relationship with the City of Middleton, working together to bring this retail offering to the greater Madison community. When ground was broken in late 2002, it would take just a year to open the retail center to much fanfare.

As with all RED projects, Greenway Station’s design complements the community and existing design elements of the area. Set on 51 landscaped acres, Greenway Station was designed to combine the variety and character of a vibrant city shopping district with amenities and conveniences that far surpass those of traditional suburban shopping centers. According to Jeff McMahon, who oversees design for RED, the goal for Greenway Station was to blend in effortlessly to the surrounding landscape, appearing as if it has existed for many years. “The design was inspired by the charming, elegant style of old Midwestern rail stations,” McMahon explained. “Tremendous attention to detail, high-quality construction materials, and distinct facades and rooflines all work to make Greenway Station unlike any shopping destination visitors have ever experienced. The feeling is timeless, welcoming, and relaxing.”

To bring this vision to reality, RED selected Wisconsin-based Kraemer Brothers Construction as its general contractor. An excellent working relationship was formed that allowed the project to be completed on-time and on budget. RED also worked with the Department of Natural Resources to ensure certain natural elements and grassy areas were retained in the finished design, creating a lasting tie to the surrounding area.

Throughout the development project, retailer interest was strong. RED was able to attract many of the nation’s leading retailers to Greenway Station and, in many cases, it was the first location in the area or in the state. The elegant lifestyle center boasts a strong and successful national tenant line-up featuring Ann Taylor Loft, DSW, Chico’s, J. Jill, Cheeseburger In Paradise, Big Bowl, Claddagh Irish Pub, Panchero’s Mexican Grill, Romano’s Macaroni Grill, The Sharper Image, Kirkland’s and Bombay Company. Adding to the uniqueness of the center is a strong local tenant line-up including Savoir Faire.

The combination of local partnerships, national and local retailers, one-of-a-kind restaurants and unique design have made Greenway Station and the parties involved a success.