Parisian at Parkway Place grows

Belk plans two-story addition and renovation ahead of name change

Thursday, January 18, 2007

By MARIAN ACCARDI

Times Business Writer marian.accardi@htimes.com

A two-story, 20,000-square-foot expansion of the Parisian at Parkway Place mall and a renovation of the existing store is scheduled to be completed in September.

A new home store will be located on the second floor of the addition, said Glenn Sellers, vice president regional manager of Belk Inc.'s Western Division, Tennessee Region. Charlotte, N.C.-based Belk last year purchased Parisian department stores in nine states - including those at Parkway Place and Madison Square malls.

The children's department is now on the store's second floor and will move to the first floor. On the first floor - in addition to the children's department relocation - Belk will expand its cosmetic lines and better jewelry department, Sellers said. He said he couldn't announce the new cosmetic lines yet.

Big and tall men's clothing also will be added to the men's department on the first floor. Belk also will expand its better women's wear departments, according to Sellers.

Parisian stores will take the Belk name later this year.

Rentenbach Constructors Inc. is the construction manager for the renovation and expansion.

The renovation should begin in June shortly after the expansion is complete, Sellers said. The Parkway Place store now has about 167,000 square feet.

"Shoppers will still be able to easily access the store through the parking garage entrance and the back entrance facing L&N Drive," he said.

"We expect to see physical progress on the construction site sometime next week," said Brent Blalock, director of business development with Rentenbach. That work would include removing landscaping and tearing out asphalt.

The east side of the store, which faces L&N, will be expanded 40 feet into the parking lot, said Neal Woodland, Rentenbach's senior estimator.

Belk isn't saying yet what will happen at Madison Square Mall, which has both Parisian and Belk stores.

Belk completed the purchase of Parisian from Saks Inc. in October, paying $285 million in cash. The transaction included 38 Parisian stores in nine states in the Southeast and Midwest and two stores that opened after the transaction closed.

Belk also announced plans last year to divest 11 of the Parisians and agreed with Federated Department Stores Inc. to exchange its Parisian in Collierville, Tenn., for a Macy's in Wilmington, N.C.

Rentenbach is building a two-story, 132,000-square-foot Belk in Murfreesboro, Tenn., that's set to open this fall. The company also completed a new Belk in Stillwater, Okla., last summer and is building a Belk in Flower Mound, Texas, to be completed in March 2007.



Parisian at Parkway Place grows Belk plans two-story addition and renovation ahead of name change Thursday, January 18, 2007 By MARIAN ACCARDI Times Business Writer marian.accardi@htimes.com A two-story, 20,000-square-foot expansion of the Parisian at Parkway Place mall and a renovation of the existing store is scheduled to be completed in September. A new home store will be located on the second floor of the addition, said Glenn Sellers, vice president regional manager of Belk Inc.'s Western Division, Tennessee Region. Charlotte, N.C.-based Belk last year purchased Parisian department stores in nine states - including those at Parkway Place and Madison Square malls. The children's department is now on the store's second floor and will move to the first floor. On the first floor - in addition to the children's department relocation - Belk will expand its cosmetic lines and better jewelry department, Sellers said. He said he couldn't announce the new cosmetic lines yet. Big and tall men's clothing also will be added to the men's department on the first floor. Belk also will expand its better women's wear departments, according to Sellers. Parisian stores will take the Belk name later this year. Rentenbach Constructors Inc. is the construction manager for the renovation and expansion. The renovation should begin in June shortly after the expansion is complete, Sellers said. The Parkway Place store now has about 167,000 square feet. "Shoppers will still be able to easily access the store through the parking garage entrance and the back entrance facing L&N Drive," he said. "We expect to see physical progress on the construction site sometime next week," said Brent Blalock, director of business development with Rentenbach. That work would include removing landscaping and tearing out asphalt. The east side of the store, which faces L&N, will be expanded 40 feet into the parking lot, said Neal Woodland, Rentenbach's senior estimator. Belk isn't saying yet what will happen at Madison Square Mall, which has both Parisian and Belk stores. Belk completed the purchase of Parisian from Saks Inc. in October, paying $285 million in cash. The transaction included 38 Parisian stores in nine states in the Southeast and Midwest and two stores that opened after the transaction closed. Belk also announced plans last year to divest 11 of the Parisians and agreed with Federated Department Stores Inc. to exchange its Parisian in Collierville, Tenn., for a Macy's in Wilmington, N.C. Rentenbach is building a two-story, 132,000-square-foot Belk in Murfreesboro, Tenn., that's set to open this fall. The company also completed a new Belk in Stillwater, Okla., last summer and is building a Belk in Flower Mound, Texas, to be completed in March 2007. © 2007 The Huntsville Times © 2007 al.com All Rights Reserved.