New West Little Rock Shopping Center
By: Import User
Updated: January 7, 2009
If you`re a big shopper or looking for more out there, be patient, because developers say they`re bringing a new shopping center to Little Rock.
This comes just six weeks after developers tossed plans to build the Summit Mall.
Red Development calls it "The Promenade at Chenal" to be built at the intersection of Chenal Parkway and Rahling Road.
It sits on about 48 acres and the center will take up over 480,000 square feet.
Some resident in one Chenal neighborhood already admit to leaving town to go shopping.
"Park Plaza`s really the only place to go shopping...Dallas," laughs Tammy Johnson, who lives in Avignon Court.
In just a couple of years, she and her neighbors won`t have to go much farther than just down the road.
That`s where developers are planning to turn these trees into "The Promenade at Chenal."
"Basically this is about economic impact, upon our community. It means keeping that sales tax base in our city limits," said Mayor Jim Dailey.
They`re calling it an upscale lifestyle center, with outdoor shopping.
Its anchor is none other than the Arkansas-based Dillard`s Department Store.
"We would prefer to have 2 profitable stores in the market instead of one...Some people will drive by Park Plaza to come to Chenal. Some people won`t, the market will tell us," said Dillard`s vice-president of real estate, Wes Cherry.
And developers say it`s designed to fit right into the West Little Rock economy.
Its Chenal`s demographics that attracted developers in the first place.
"It`s a higher income area, the population density is growing and the nature of the neighborhood is more upscale," Dan Lowe, Red Development, LLC.
Red Development Corporation says they aren`t ready to announce what other tenants they`ll have.
Dan Lowe says they`re mostly the same one`s found in the malls, but more upscale, ranging from Abercrombie and Fitch to Yankee Candle.
The entire project should cost $75 million.
Developers plan to break ground on the center later this year. They said they hope to open the Promenade in Spring 2006.
