Yes, people, we are getting a J. Crew.
The Ainbinder Company, the Houston-based developer of the Ambassador Crossing center that will be anchored by Whole Foods, has just released some of the retailers committed to the project, and there are a few cool tenants on the list.
As ABiz reported last month, J. Crew is coming (yipee!), along with Lee Michaels Fine Jewelry, Carter's Babies & Kids/Osh Kosh B'Gosh, Massage Envy, Chipotle Mexican Grill, Which Wich and Superior Nails.
It's unclear whether Baton Rouge-based Lee Michaels plans to close its Acadiana Mall store. The local store manager, Kim Henry, was unavailable for comment, and two messages ABiz left at the corporate office were not immediately returned.
Acadiana Mall General Manager Bryan LeBlanc tells ABiz he has not received any word from the company on whether it will keep the mall store open. LeBlanc declined to disclose when the company's lease expires.
According to Ainbinder, negotiations are still under way to bring several upscale fashion and home furnishings retailers and several restaurants to the remaining space.
Work is under way on the Whole Foods development, where a J. Crew, Lee Michaels and Chipotle Mexican Grill will also open locations.
Ambassador Crossing, located at Settlers Trace Boulevard and Ambassador Caffery Parkway, consists of 108,00 square feet of retail space on 12 acres of land with Whole Foods occupying 36,200 of those square feet.
The property was acquired from the Saloom family; the development broke ground last week.
The Ainbinder Company specializes in the acquisition, development and redevelopment of retail real estate throughout the country.