All updates from the month of July 2006 are listed below.

Perhaps no mall news is good mall news?
Written by Justin on July 28, 2006 at 10:19PM

• The mall has seen a bit of press lately, but not for great reasons.
• One incident surrounds a series of thefts at the two Sunglass Hut stores at the Natick Mall. Nearly $8,000 dollars worth of sunglasses have been stolen, consisting of mostly designer frames from brands including Prada and Bvlgari. The thieves are said to be African-Americans working for a gang, but no further details on the suspect are readily available. Natick isn't alone; the gang has targeted locations at the Burlington Mall in Burlington and The Shops at Prudential Center in Boston. The MetroWest Daily News has more on this story at http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=136292. Local TV stations have been all over the story as well, with WBZ-TV (CBS4) at http://cbs4boston.com/local/local_story_205204219.html, WCVB (Ch. 5) at http://www.thebostonchannel.com/news/9565231/detail.html, and WHDH (Ch. 7) at http://www1.whdh.com/news/articles/local/BO23522/ bringing the robberies to regional attention.
• But that's not all. One new Natick Mall tenant, Eastern Arts, had been selling weapons that are illegal in the state of Massachusetts since it opened two weeks ago. The store, which sells primarily Asian statues and similar items, had the illegal items confiscated, and the store's owner is expected to be charged with weapons violations. But that wasn't all: later that day, after the police confiscated the items, mall management terminated the store's 30-day lease. The MWDN has coverage of this story at http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=136495, and WHDH has video at http://www3.whdh.com/news/articles/local/BO23565/.
• Finally, several men were charged in Norfolk Superior Court for charges pertaining to a modeling scam. Marvel Models, a Needham-based company, scouted for models at the Natick Mall and other area shopping malls; models that chose to be part of the scam were victims of the men's scheme which was in actuality a money pit. The Needham Times has more on this story at http://www2.townonline.com/needham/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=545111.
• And finally, on a lighter note, I'll be heading down to the Washington, D.C. area in the coming weeks to check out Tyson's Galleria. Tyson's Galleria is the mall that General Growth has referred to all along as what the Natick Mall expansion will resemble when it opens in September 2007 in regard to tenants, restaurants, design, and so forth. Look for some pictures on the From Wonder Bread to the Natick Mall Expansion in the weeks ahead.
  

New mall story in Boston Globe
Written by Justin on July 14, 2006 at 12:13AM

• A story in yesterday's Boston Globe highlighted the ongoing construction at the Natick Mall. While there isn't really much new information in the story, it might be some good catch-up reading if you've been out of the loop lately on what's going on. There were several interesting references, however...
• First, the article compares the Natick Mall expansion to one of the world's most upscale shopping centers: General Growth's Ala Moana Center in Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii. Several potential tenants come up: Louis Vuitton (again), Prada, and Chanel.
• The article lists the mall's current anchor tenants: "Sears, Lord & Taylor, Macy's and an expected JC Penney". Given how much we've seen of JC Penney, it must only be a press release away now...
• The mall will officially get a new logo: it's the large, script "N" that's been seen around. In case you're unfamiliar with it, you can see it at the bottom left corner of this page.
• It's no more Natick Mall... just "Natick". I don't think I can say it better than the story...
• The shopping center also will no longer officially be called a ``mall," just ``Natick," owners said, in part because of the addition of the condos. ``It's almost like its own community," Bryant said.
  
• The story can be found at http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2006/07/13/a_mall_grows_in_natick/.
  

"Nouvelle at Natick"?
Written by Justin on July 3, 2006 at 1:01AM

• Looks like the condominums at the Natick Mall have an official name. You can check out nouvelleatnatick.com for some renderings of what the new "Nouvelle at Natick" will look like.
  

Rooftop gardens to adorn new mall condos
Written by Justin on July 3, 2006 at 12:49AM

• As if the new condominiums at the Natick Mall could not be any more urbane for their rather dull setting in the Golden Triangle, there's more. The MetroWest Daily News today reported that a 1.5 acre "roof garden" on top of the mall that will be connected to one of the residential towers on the sixth floor. According to GGP's senior development director, it will be the largest "green roof" project in New England. The article also mentions that the mall expansion will include a patio where residents can grill food, a fitness center, and a bar area. The story can be found at http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=134414.
  

New restaurant to Natick Mall food court
Written by Justin on July 3, 2006 at 12:43AM

• Gourmet India opened today at the Natick Mall, in the food court between McDonald's and D'Angelo. The chain, based in Burlington, focuses on high-quality, fast-service, Indian cuisine, with locations at The Shops at Prudential Center in Boston, the Burlington Mall, and a standalone eatery in Brookline's Coolidge Corner. The MWDN has a story on the restaurant at http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/businessNews/view.bg?articleid=133907.