Concord Mills mall is adding three sports apparel retailers, all this summer
Concord Mills has three new additions making debuts this summer, even as the mall’s ownership navigates a wave of legal disputes with existing tenants.
Request Boutique, a marketplace for buying, selling and trading sneakers and streetwear, recently opened at Concord Mills, mall owner Simon said Tuesday. The store is across from Five Below in the former A Sneaker City spot. A Sneaker City, based in Albany, N.Y., was a similar store concept that closed in January amid a lease breach dispute.
Request, founded in 2015 and based in Greensboro, has two stores in Charlotte at 209 S. Kings Drive and Charlotte Premium Outlets in Steele Creek, according to the company’s website. Request now has 10 stores in North Carolina, Alabama, Florida, Georgia and Louisiana.
Two more stores also are expected to open this summer, Simon said.
JD Sports, which sells sneakers, athletic apparel and accessories, is scheduled to open July 25, according to the mall’s website. The location is next door to Vans Outlet, between the food court and SEA LIFE Charlotte-Concord Aquarium.
Rally House, a sports-focused retailer, also will open in late July, not far from Request Boutique across from Crocs. Rally House and the Charlotte Hornets this month announced a multi-year agreement with the retailer managing the team’s e-commerce operations and a physical space for faster shipping and place for fans to shop.
The new stores will join about 180 other retailers at 1.36-million-square-foot shopping center at 8111 Concord Mills Blvd. Other recent openings at Concord Mills include Miss A and Kids Jungle Playground.
Indianapolis-based Simon also owns SouthPark mall in Charlotte and Charlotte Premium Outlets in Steele Creek.
More stores opening at Charlotte malls
Simon’s two other local shopping centers also have several store openings planned and recent openings.
At SouthPark mall, Cartier will debut its first North Carolina store next year. The French luxury brand specializing in high-end jewelry, wristwatches, leather goods and fragrances will open in the Neiman Marcus wing of SouthPark mall.
Arhaus, a home furnishing brand known for artisan-crafted furniture and décor, is relocating and expanding at The Village at SouthPark. The standalone showroom will be located between Michael Kors and Coach.
Material Good with three iconic Swiss watchmakers — IWC Schaffhausen, Panerai and Jaeger-LeCoultre — will debut a joint venture boutique between Kodak Group and Material Good in the mall’s luxury wing.
Suitsupply, a European fashion men’s suit company made with Italian fabrics, will open in the Belk luxury wing.
The new stores join about 170 other retailers at the high-end shopping center at 4400 Sharon Road in Charlotte. Other recent openings at SouthPark include TileBar, a showroom for wall and floor tile; Garage, the Montreal-based women’s clothing brand; and Zara, the Spanish-based trendy fashion retail store.
At Charlotte Premium Outlets, Timberland Outlet is expected to open Aug. 1 next to Old Navy, according to the shopping center’s website. The iconic New Hampshire-based retailer is known for its iconic yellow boot and trail-ready to streetwear shoes, apparel and accessories.
Charlotte Premium Outlets has over 100 stores at 5428 New Fashion Way. Other recent openings at the outlet include Champ Sports, Ulta Beauty, Portland Leather Goods, OFFLINE by Aerie and Buckle.
Concord Mills ownership navigating legal disputes
As new stores prepare to open in the Charlotte region, Simon has spent recent weeks pursuing legal action against tenants in court.
In a recent ruling, a Cabarrus County magistrate granted the Mall at Concord Mills Limited Partnership the right to evict EZ Purchase LLC, doing business as Go Green CBD for unpaid rent. The Aventura, Florida-based retailer owes $104,770 in rent as of June 1, according to court documents. The store sells CBD and THC products.
Concord Mills also secured a significant legal victory against A Sneaker City. On June 29, the mall was awarded a $606,200 judgment for back-due rent, plus over $90,000 in attorney fees, after the retailer failed to respond to the mall’s breach-of-lease complaint.
Parent company, A Sneaker City Albany Inc., filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on July 10. Court filings indicate the company’s financial strain was driven by lease guarantees on closed locations across the country, including Concord Mills.
In June, SouthPark Mall Limited Partnership filed to evict Aroma360 NC Sp LLC, a luxury scenting and retail store. Aroma360 owes more than $55,816 in rent as of June 1, according to the complaint filed in Mecklenburg County small claims court. The mall is seeking possession of the space, according to court filings.
A hearing originally scheduled for Monday, July 6, was continued until July 13. The latest court filings show the parties are working toward a settlement and requested another hearing continuance until July 27.
