We've already seen some movement around the Center. The
UPS Store, originally on Lynx Lane, has moved into the main courtyard
taking part of the old Feet First location. Today's Catch Seafood
Market, the lone survivor left in the building that once housed the
ill-fated Giant has moved in between Anthony Richard Barber Shop and
Absolutely Wine and Spirits. This space had most recently housed The
Medicine Shoppe, a small Pharmacy that parted ways with Wilde Lake soon
after the Giant. Both of these businesses appear to have settled well in
their new digs.
On the demolition front, the Buildings that housed
the Giant and Produce Galore are no more. Kimco wasted no time in
demolishing these long vacant eye sore that also house many of my
childhood memories. Although Produce Galore remained at the Center
another years and a half after Giant's departure, its building was
demolished and level first and for good reason. The site of the former
Produce Galore is the now the site that a brand new David's Natural
Market will be built. David's is still in its old Lynx Lane building
next to its new building that's being erected as we speak. The goal for
Kimco and the Owners of David's is for David's to close its old store
one night and re open in its new location the next morning.
With all this new redevelopment energy in the air,
the future seems the brightest it's been for Wilde Lake in a long time.
In addition to existing stores like David's and Today's Catch finding
new homes in the Center, room to add brand stores to the Center will be
added as long as spaces that are currently vacant and won't be torn
down. And they are........?????
Well there's the CVS, I mentioned that already so
that leaves the new.......???? Hmmm, so far there aren't any new leases
Kimco has announced at this time. The way Kimco was selling the
redevelopment plan (I was present when the plan was unveiled to the
public and made a snide remark about the lack of a Full Service Grocer
right to the Vice President of Kimco's face) they would have you believe
that perspective tenants would be banging their doors down waiting to
sign leases at the new Wilde Lake Village Center. Apparently that hasn't
been the case. In fact quite the opposite has been the case.
Since redevelopment has started, the Center has
actually LOST tenants. Either they had no intention of weathering the
storm of construction, Kimco didn't renew their leases, or Kimco raised
their rent too high. We know the reason for the Crown Gas Station's soon
to be departure but what about the others? Since Jun 30, 2013
(ironically the 46 year anniversary of Columbia's dedication) the Center
has lost; The Columbia Bank, Wilde Lake Cleaners, Hunan Family, and
Acheivers Hair Salon. In defense of all but the Dry Cleaners, their
buildings have been or will be demolished.
Now a couple of these Businesses could have
relocated to vacant storefronts that have not and will not be
demolished, the route that Today's Catch and The UPS Store have taken.
There's the other half of the old Feet First building that could have
housed one of the smaller businesses and the boarded up KFC building
could have taken the Columbia Bank. Heck it even has a drive-thru!
Granted, the construction of Wilde Lake Village
Center is only in its infancy and perhaps I'm over reacting to the lack
of forthcoming leases or the flight of Businesses who don't want to
weather the storm of construction but I do care enough about the future
of the Center to bring it up. I hope that as buildings continued to be
torn down and rebuilt and the finished product begins to take shape that
new leases will start coming down the pipeline.
It would be hard to imagine a new Dry Cleaner, new
Bank, new Hair Salon, new Restaurant etc. signing a lease when they
can't even occupy their new space until 2015! CVS, I could understand
signing early as it is the cornerstone of the redevelopment and larger
tenants usually sign leases much further in advance than smaller ones. I
guess what I'm saying is, if there haven't been any announced additions
this time next year, I would feel more obliged to say; Lets See Some
Leases!
