DORTEGA005

Ruehl comes to Houston, plans are for Feb. 2008 and this store is costing 1/2 a million to build! Have fun shopping!

I went to Whole Foods and it was crowded. However, the market is very nice and appealing. I have not tried their Cafe Bar. Overall the Sugar Land location is very nice and the staff was helpful.

Not sure if there was another forum about this topic. However, does anybody know what is going on with this construction site?

There is so much building, but how about the streets? Traffic is a pain on 99 and fry. Soon 99 will need to expand. why not now?

I like the this concept. It would be another boost for Sugar Land.

Interesting, does not surprise me. I have not really seen an Olive Garden in the Sugar Land area. (maybe i am wrong)

Hey guys, I have already read the post puma posted, before he posted the reply. It simply was not a clear answer. However, I think the questions is answered. Thanks

Does anybody know what they are starting to construct on 59 and 6? Is that Whole Foods or part of the strip?

Not if its successful, per the article.

Sounds like a will be taking my little sister.

I think we are forgetting that people from other cities consider Houston as everything that makes up Houston. That is Sugar Land, The Woodlands, Downtown, The Galleria, Clearlake, etc. We have to work together to bring tourism to Houston because it has several places to visit and see.

First Colony Mall signs up more retailers

By KATHERINE FESER

Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle

Opening this summer are: abercrombie Kids, a teen clothing store under construction; Abercrombie & Fitch, which will return in the space formerly occupied by Williams-Sonoma; The Levi's Store for its second Houston location; James Avery jewelry store; The Body Shop; and New York & Co., a women's apparel and accessories store.

Coach recently opened an accessories store and Charlotte Russe plans to open an apparel and accessories store for young women this spring. In addition, Wet Seal will relocate this summer.

The changes come as Sugar Land's First Colony Mall celebrated its 10 year anniversary last year. A renovation program began in 2005 with the addition of a restaurant plaza with The Cheesecake Factory and Kona Grill.

"We really felt like we wanted to be an entertainment and dining destination," said Aimee Braswell, the mall's marketing manager.

The second phase of the renovation consisted of the Courtyard Shops, a 125,000-square-foot expansion with stores clustered around a landscaped plaza. Among the stores are Barnes & Noble, Williams-Sonoma, White House/Black Market, soma by Chico's and Coldwater Creek.

Last year, the mall added 20 stores with 12 new to the market, including an Apple store and Pottery Barn. Four restaurants, yet to be named, will open in 2007 and 2008, Braswell said.

Situated at U.S. 59 and Texas 6, First Colony Mall is anchored by Macy's, Dillard's and J.C. Penney. The recent additions bring the mall's size to 1,045,000 square feet.

Dillard's has purchased the shuttered Mervyn's building and will shift some departments to the new store.

First Colony Mall is owned and managed by General Growth Properties. Its other malls in the area include Baybrook, Deerbrook, The Woodlands Mall and Willowbrook.

katherine.feser@chron.com

As a matter of fact, A&F is returning to FCM. They're also bringing in abercrombie (that's right, all lowercase...it's the Abercrombie kids store). Here's what the store list from the mall's website (and also from a leasing map taken from the website of the mall's owner) shows:

Leasing map of FCM: http://www.ggp.com/content/live/data/PDF/612-LP1.pdf

Coming soon:

A (Food Court):

Famous Cajun (next to McDonald's)

B (Area of mall surrounded by Dillard's and Macy's wings, JC Penney, the soon to be Dillard's Men's store (if that's what it is), all the mall entrances, and the Food Court):

Abercrombie & Fitch (possibly across from Bath & Body Works, taking up either three or four vacant spaces next to Sunglass Hut and Pottery Barn and surrounding Gordon's Jewelers; there are many vacant spaces in this portion of the mall, but that agglomeration is the largest on the map)

Cache

Levi

Sheikh Shoes (listed as being next to Select Comfort, could be open though...)

C (Dillard's wing):

abercrombie (the kids A&F)

Charlotte Russe

NY & Co.

(One notable vacant spot is in the former Talbots, which moved outdoors...the old Talbots could be either abercrombie kids or Charlotte Russe; NY & Co. already has a spot listed)

E (new outdoor section):

Black Walnut Cafe (not in the restaurant expansion area)

Grimaldi's Pizzeria (no clue...)

James Avery (this is most likely a relocation from the First Colony Commons...since SL would practically have to be richer than River Oaks to maintain two James Averys)

In the end, there remain a number of vacant spaces remaining...and retailers that could potentially fill them once the ones above fill in the blanks...

I agree FCM is getting better stores now. The stores stan the man listed is already old news. But I do agree FCM is improving. A hot spot to look at is La Centerra @ Katy.

Not sure, I was trying to find out too. I think it is New Quest Property, I might find it in their website.

Reply: it depends what area of Pecan Grove, all sections are nice. It is a nice neighborhood out of the city, nice house from 200-700s

Does anyone know what they are building in front of Lifetime Fitness in Sugarland of 59? I thought it was a Chick-fil-a. It has red doors and Chic-fil-a was the only thing I could think of.

The outdoor life-style still needs better stores. Do not get me wrong BN is a strong point. I believe they need a real Starbucks outside. However, with BN, Black & White Market, W. Sonoma, Ann Taylor are all great stores. They still need a store to attract young people. Oh yes and Anthropoligie is also a great move. A&F needs to come back and Urban Outfitters would also be nice (I know it's hard to imagine it). Also, more marketing for Sugarland and their attractions should increase in Houston magazines and papers. (Oh yes..COACH is also a very smart move to FCM).

First Colony Mall will soon open these new stores this fall:

ALDO

Apple

Barnes & Noble

Black Walnut Cafe

Coach

Cold WaterCreek

Famous Wok

Forever 21

Grimaldi's Pizzaria

Kay Jewelrs

Levi

Shiekh Shoes

SOMA

Starbucks

Swarovski Crystal

Toni & Guy

White House/Black Market

Sugar Land City Council Vote Gives Brazos River Park a Jump-Start

by Bob Dunn, Aug 15, 2006, 11 10 pm

Sugar Land City Council awarded a $2.1 million contract for first-phase construction of the city

City Park is a 21-acre community park which features the City's Municipal Pool, 5 lighted baseball fields (1 t-ball, 3 little league-for boys, 1 pony for boys and 1 football practice area), concession stands, batting cages, a lighted and covered skate park with bleachers, benches and bike racks, 4 lighted tennis/pickleball courts, a playground, picnic pavilion, drinking fountain, barbecue grills, benches, picnic tables, restrooms, sand volleyball court, horseshoe pits and parking lot. City Park also features the Jim Cooper Meeting Room, ideal for small meetings and gatherings.

Bechtel Moves Division HQ To Sugar Land, Hints Of Bigger Deal In Works

by Bob Dunn, Aug 16, 2006, 07 43 am/ From: Fort Bend Now

Sugar Land is gaining an important corporate headquarters, as Bechtel Equipment Operations, a division of the giant Bechtel Corp., has decided to move its headquarters here from Louisville, Ky.

Sugar Land City Council laid the groundwork for a deal Tuesday night that will bring BEO to a 4.2-acre site in Sugar Land Business Park and create 40 new jobs with an average salary of $65,000, according to information provided by Sugar Land Economic Development Director Regina Morales.

The company will consolidate its operations in Louisville and in Deer Park, and roll them into the new Sugar Land headquarters. By doing so, they will gain a 40% tax abatement over the next 10 years, on property and inventory the city estimated at $7.3 million. The tax abatement was part of an ordinance passed on first reading Tuesday night, as was the creation of a reinvestment zone.

But it appears the city potentially has a lot more to gain. While BEO President Bob Hall discussed his company

The third restaurant in FCM Lifestyle Expansion is BRIO. I know they have a location at the Woodlands Mall. Brio will be across from The CheeseCake Factory. Cant wait untill this Fall to see what the new expansion will look like? Lets say more palm trees, a nice large water fountain, and parking inside the new expansion. Like Sugarland Town Center you will be able to drive in between the new stores. Want a picture of the finished product email me at: dortega005@aol.comWell, thanks for your time.

GROWTH & STORES It seems like Houston and outside cities are growing on a good side. Many people think that First Colony Mall will sink, since the lack of stores. However, new stores are coming soon. Apple( will have 3 stores in the Houston Area), New York & Co., Sephora, Aldo, White & Black Market, Black Walnut Cafe, Starbucks, Toni & Guy, 2-story Barnes & Noble and many more will soon open this year. J. Hampton is another upscale store with two locations, Rice Village and Sugarland. Upscale Fourthe & Towne, from Gap selected Houston to open a new store, other cities include New York, Chicago, Atlanta, San Diego, Santa Barbara, etc. UH Sugarland will expand and connect with WCJC on Hwy. 59, Lake Pointe Plaza in Sugarland will have a bigger Whole Foods Market than the Galleria area. The Woodlands has had lots of success with the new expansion of the mall and town center. Rosenburg is now even growing with new stores like: Target, Best Buy, Hampton-Inn, Kohls, Starbucks, and several more stores. It will take time untill all areas will function properly, but when it does people do not have to rely oh Houston for their main attraction.

Apple Store to be open in First Colony Mall from several different sourced and insiders.

First Colony Mall is #46

There will be a regular series of grand openings through the summer, all leading to the usual crush of openings around Thanksgiving, all intended to be ready for the 2006 holiday shopping season. Oppenheimer has said Apple will continue to open new stores in a "measured pace," and that 35 to 40 new stores each year seems to be the most comfortable speed -- although not to the many Apple fans who are anxious to have a store in their city.

Fiscal 2006 retail openings and beyond

1 - Staten Island Mall - Staten Island, New York - opened 10/15

2 - The Oaks - Thousand Oaks, California - opened 10/29

3 - Burlington Mall - Burlington, Massachusetts - opened 11/05

4 - Brea Mall - Brea, California - opened 11/12

5 - Gateway Mall - Salt Lake City, Utah - opened 11/19

6 - Beverly Center - Los Angeles, California - opened 11/19

7 - Fashion Square - Sherman Oaks, California - opened 11/19

8 - Trafford Centre - Manchester, England - opened 11/19

9 - Fukuoka Tenjin - Fukuoka, Japan - opened 12/03

10 - Sendai Ichibancho - Sendai, Japan - opened 12/10

11 - Meadowhall Centre - Sheffield, England - opened 12/10

12 - Brent Cross - London, England - opened 1/28

13 - Garden State Plaza - Paramus, New Jersey - opened 2/04

14 - Irvine Spectrum Center - Irvine, California - opened 2/11

15 - Derby Street - Hingham, Massachusetts - opened 2/18

16 - Northpark Center - Dallas, Texas - opened 3/04

17 - Summit Sierra - Reno, Nevada - opened 3/15

18 - Southlake Center - Southlake, Texas - opened 4/08

19 - Eaton Centre - Toronto, Canada - opened 5/06

20 - Flatiron Crossing - Broomfield, Colorado - opened 5/06

21- Suburban Square - Ardmore, Pennsylvania - opening 5/13

22 - Simi Valley Town Center - Simi Valley, California - opening 5/13

23 - Lincoln Road - Miami Beach, Florida

24 - Crabtree Valley - Raleigh, North Carolina

25 - Midtown - New York City, New York

26 - Freehold Raceway - Freehold, New Jersey

27 - The Pier - Atlantic City, New Jersey

28 - Romaest Mall - Rome, Italy

29 - Perimeter Mall - Atlanta, Georgia

30 - Ridgedale Mall - Minneapolis, Minnesota

31 - The Mall in Columbia - Columbia, Maryland

32 - Providence Place Mall - Providence, Rhode Island

33 - Memorial City Mall - Houston, Texas

34 - Fair Oaks Mall - Fairfax, Virginia

35 - Smith Haven Mall - Lake Grove, New York

36 - Stamford Town Center - Stamford, Connecticut

37 - MacArthur Center - Norfolk, Virginia

38 - West Town Mall - Knoxville, Tennessee

39 - Le Carrefour Laval - Montreal, Canada

40 - West Quay Mall - Southampton, England

41 - Maruzen Building - Sapporo, Japan

42 - Arndale Centre - Manchester, England

43 - Sherway Gardens - Toronto, Canada

44 - Village Point Mall - Omaha, Nebraska

45 - 29th Street Mall - Boulder, Colorado

46 - First Colony Mall - Sugar Land, Texas

47 - Topanga Mall - Canoga Park, California

48 - Waterside Shops - Naples, Florida

49 - Chinook Centre - Calgary, Canada

50 - ABQ Uptown Center - Albuquerque, New Mexico

51 - Coconut Point Mall - Bonita Springs, Florida

52 - Otay Ranch Town Center - San Diego, California

53 - Cherry Hill Mall - Cherry Hill, New Jersey

Source: http://www.thinksecret.com/news/0605retail.html

Sounds like First Colony is going to be a hot-spot. I will be glad if it becomes a shopping destination.!

Recently added to Brazos Town Center:

-Hamptons Inn

-Kohls

-Starbucks

Actually, I consider First Colony to be on the same page with Memorial City and The Woodlands, the latter of which received a similar makeover. I personally love Abercrombie & Fitch, and I am actually angered by their situation at FCM not to mention the countless lack of knowledge on their situation. (If even the store's managers do not know about its fate, then we do not know). Think those Clements people are angered by this? I went to Dulles and even I am disgusted.

The good thing is: remember The Woodlands Mall expansion as an example. I'm pretty sure our friendly neighbors to the north had to deal with the same mess when theirs was going on, and I truly understand how we all are left dealing with chaos.

- KYLE S.

Actually if you go to FCM, Pottety Barn is listed on the mall and words that the store sells. So I think it's going to be in FCM, since they are marketing it at the mall.