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

Macy's headed to Chestnut Hill, renovations headed to Natick
Written by Justin on October 30, 2006 at 10:39PM

• Out to the east in Chestnut Hill, Bloomingdale's is set to move its women's store on November 10th from a stand-alone outlet on Hammond Pond Pkwy. to the former Filene's building at The Mall at Chestnut Hill, following extensive renovations that added nearly 65,000 sq. ft. to the building. 
• What's happening to the old Bloomingdale's, you might ask? It's set to become one of Macy's 10 most upscale locations in the country when it opens next March, with an upscale assortment of products ranging from Eileen Fisher jackets to 7 For All Mankind jeans. What Federated aims to gain from opening an Macy's that sells Eileen Fisher and Sevens next to two existing Bloomingdale's is yet to be seen... could they be locked into a long-term lease?
  
• Of course, there's a MetroWest link to the story too. In the article, Federated CEO Terry Lundgren mentioned that the Natick Macy's, currently housed in the former Filene's building, is slated for a much-needed renovation in the near future, but will it happen before the mall expansion opens in less than one year from now? A renovation is also planned at Macy's Downtown Crossing store. The article also mentions that Bloomingdale's is scoping out a second site in the Boston area, and the Lord & Taylor at Prudential Center was close to becoming it had L&T's new owners not had as much interest in the building.
  
• The Boston Globe has more on Macy's plans at http://www.boston.com/business/globe/articles/2006/10/24/macys_going_upscale_at_new_chestnut_hill_store/.

Around the triangle... Lowe's in December, "Natick" re-opens in November
Written by Justin on October 30, 2006 at 10:12PM

• Sorry for the lack of updates lately; I've been very busy. It's not that there has been a ton of stuff going on, but nevertheless, here's the latest scoop.
• What's going on with Lowe's? The store is indeed being stocked as we speak, and all indications are that the store will open in early December rather than the rumored October 30th date... which would have been today, ironically.
• The Natick Mall (or should we say Natick) will have a Grand Reopening ceremony on November 17. The ceremony is set to include a fashion show as well a press conference, featuring remarks from project officials... and could there be some store announcements for the expansion in store as well? Stay tuned.
• A small fire at the mall several days ago was quickly resolved... the MWDN has more at http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=143971. And there's a new kiosk that sells nothing but beads... read more at http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/businessNews/view.bg?articleid=144032.
  

Around the triangle... Lowe's, Legal's, and more
Written by Justin on October 15, 2006 at 1:01AM

• There hasn't exactly been a ton of retail news lately, but here are the highlights of what's going on in the Golden Triangle.
• Lowe's appears to have received its occupancy permit as scheduled on October 13th; the store's parking lot was filled yesterday, presumably with employees stocking the store. Rumor has it that the store could be opening as early as October 30.... stay tuned.
  
• The MWDN recently printed a feature story about the new condos at the Natick Mall. Apparently Otis & Ahern, the mall's realtor for the condos, has gutted seven rooms on the top floor of the nearby Hampton Inn to give potential condo owners a perspective of what the view will be like for residents. Perhaps the most interesting part of the article has nothing to do with condos; the article mentions that the mall will have 6 "white-table" restaurants (in the past, the mall had stated 4 or 5), including the first non-anchor tenant announced.... a Legal's Test Kitchen. You can check that article out at http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/businessNews/view.bg?articleid=142222.
• A Rochester Big & Tall will soon open in Natick at 1400 Worcester Street, in the plaza that houses Skipjack's and Sleepy's. Rochester Big & Tall is a high-end store featuring brands such as Tommy Bahama and Burberry, and the Natick store will serve as the company's second store in the state and 25th store chainwide. Rochester is owned by Casual Male Retail Group; all indications are that the company's existing store on Route 9 in Framingham which operates under the "Casual Male XL" moniker will be unaffected by the new Rochester store. Further information can be found at the Worcester Business Journal's website at http://wbjournal.com/j/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=595&Itemid=129.

Natick Mall expansion almost ready to "top-off"
Written by Justin on October 2, 2006 at 1:08PM

• The Natick Mall expansion will have a "topping-off" ceremony this Friday. A topping-off ceremony marks the point at which the construction has reached it's top height, and consists of the installation of the final important structural beam.

"Eastern Arts" case finalized for $10k
Written by Justin on October 2, 2006 at 1:01PM

• Remember that case regarding a store at the Natick Mall selling illegal weapons? It's been settled at last.
  
• The owner of Eastern Arts, a martial arts store at the Natick Mall, pled guilty earlier this week and agreed to pay a $10,000 fine. As you may recall, police confiscated the weapons and mall management shuttered the store following the incident last July.