August 12, 2005

Eastridge opens renovated interior

By Bea Baechle
Editor

Eastridge is gradually unveiling renovated portions of the shopping mall and inviting customers into those new areas for the first time since December 2003.

Between now and June 2006, expect to see almost 50 new retail, dining and entertainment options inside of the 1.3 million square-foot regional center or on the outer perimeters of the parking lot. Even with new restaurants in the lot, 7,500 parking spaces will remain to accommodate the increased activity.

Previously, Eastridge representatives had hoped to unveil more of the retailers by this month. Yet the typical construction delays have pushed back the dates on some of the most highly anticipated additions.

The 15 new AMC theaters, as part of a vibrant new streetscape, are now scheduled to open in November. Barnes & Noble, as well as Bed Bath & Beyond, are targeted to open by January 2006.

Catering to time-starved shoppers, “South Street” will provide street visibility and direct access to parking. Large two-story facades will welcome shoppers with a colorful assortment of canopies and trellises, offering cooling shade and weather protection. Bold, elevated store signage will provide added visibility to assist customers locating their destinations.

The popular restaurant chains of Chili’s and Macaroni Grill, which will be located outside of the main mall in separate locations, are scheduled to open in June 2006.

John Petersen, general manager for Eastridge, said that further negotiations are still taking place for more potential restaurants to be located outside of the mall.

He explained that not all of the stores could have opened this month due to the complex logistics of doing a renovation in an existing building with stores still open for business.

“We moved 18 stores into temporary locations in the (east) JC Penney wing while we worked on reconstructing the south wing,” Petersen said. “Those stores will be moving back, so there will be construction going on (inside the mall) until the end of the year.”

For anyone who has shopped at Eastridge in the past, the cosmetic changes will immediately be evident: new carpeting upstairs, new tile downstairs, glass-hand railings and new lighting give the mall a much lighter, open feel. The middle level of the mall has been removed to further open up the space, and even the existing skylights are less blocked and more open.

“Our market research told us that customers wanted to shop in an environment that had the feel of the outdoors, yet in a controlled environment,” added Petersen. “Now you can appreciate the spaciousness of the center, along with the feel of a lighter, brighter interior.”

A redesigned food court on the second floor is conveniently located across from the new theaters, which have internal access only. In other words, you’ll have to go inside the mall to go to the movies—there’s no direct external entrance to the theaters from the street.

Petersen said the cosmetic changes and new stores will make Eastridge a much more pleasant and convenient place to shop, with superior store accessibility.

Eastridge originally opened in Evergreen in 1971 as the largest enclosed mall west of the Mississippi and last received a cosmetic update in 1995. Eastridge is owned and managed by General Growth Properties, Inc., the second largest U.S.-based publicly traded Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT).

General Growth Properties is the country’s second largest shopping center owner, manager and developer—with ownership interest and management responsibility for more than 200 regional shopping malls in 44 states across the United States. The company portfolio totals approximately 200 million square feet of retail space and includes more than 18,000 retailers nationwide.

Eastridge is located at 2200 Eastridge Loop, San Jose, Calif., 95122, near Capitol Expressway and Tully Road. For more information on Eastridge, call (408) 238-3600 or go to the Web site: www.eastridgecenter.com. For more information on General Growth Properties and its portfolio of malls, go to the Web site: www.generalgrowth.com.