Lululemon, Hollister fill the open spaces

You don’t have to walk far through Christiana Mall this spring to find a storefront covered in upcoming advertisements.

Several new stores and restaurants are in the works at Delaware’s largest mall and are expected to open before the end of this year, according to the mall owner. Brookfield Properties.

Here’s what’s new.

lululemon

The sportswear company has grown rapidly, doubling its revenue in the past three years, according to the Wall Street Journal, as it expanded its product lines and dipped into the home fitness equipment game with the purchase of Mirror. Part of this growth also comes from expanding its physical footprint into high-end malls like Christiana.

Lululemon will occupy part of the space previously occupied by Anthropologie next to the Apple Store on the north side of the mall. Brookfield Properties spokeswoman Rachel Wille said Lululemon is expected to open in June.

In the mall, Lululemon won’t be far from Fabletics, another high-end sportswear company co-founded by Kate Hudson. Gap athleisure entry Athleta opened a store at Christiana Fashion Center last year.

Hollister and Gilly Hicks

Hollister and Gilly Hicks replace Abercrombie & Fitch and Abercrombie Kids stores between Macy’s and JC Penney. All brands belong to the same parent company.

Hollister sells California-inspired clothing aimed at teens. Gilly Hicks is an underwear, loungewear and activewear brand resurrected by the company in 2017. Wille said they are expected to open “at the end of this summer”.

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Radcliffe Jewelery and Swarovski

Radcliffe Jewelers takes the rest of the space vacated by Anthropologie next to Lululemon. Radcliffe is expected to open this fall.

Swarovski is moving to the mall in a “prototype” store across from the Apple Store, Wille said. To other places, the company introduced digital elements designed to make the store more interactive. Swarovski is currently located near Macy’s. It is expected to open this fall, Wille said.

Tommy’s Tavern + Tap and Tio Taco + Tequila Bar

Two restaurants from a New Jersey restaurant group are still on the way.

Tommy’s Tavern + Tap will take over the old JB Dawson’s between Macy’s and Nordstrom on the west side of the mall, and Tio Taco + Tequila Bar will take over the old California Pizza Kitchen next door.

The restaurants were expected to open by this spring, Brookfield Properties previously said. They are now scheduled to open in the fall.

The concepts come from Triple T Hospitality Group, a group of restaurants with a dozen locations, mostly in New Jersey. They describe Tommy’s Tavern + Tap as a “rustic, industrial tavern and restaurant”. Menus at its existing locations include a variety of sandwiches, burgers and salads as well as charcoal-grilled pizza and sushi. Tommy’s also offers an extensive list of draft beers.

Tio Taco + Tequila Bar combines an “exciting and sophisticated casual atmosphere” with craft cocktails, a variety of tequilas, and foods like homemade guacamole.

Others

• AT&T is moving this summer to a bigger mall location, Wille said.

• Pro Image Sports, a sportswear store, temporarily sets up shop next to Victoria’s Secret. Wille said the store will have a similar format to its previous location in the Target wing.

• pandora, the jewelry chain, plans to reopen its renovated store in June, Wille said. It is located next to Aveda by Macy’s.

• A number of stores opened late last year, including the mattress store Purplethe fashion jeweler Lovisalingerie and underwear store intimacy and retailer of household and consumer goods miniso.

• Real fruit bubble tea is coming to the Target wing in the fall, Wille said.

• The mall has a handful of openings remaining, including those left by the Disney Store and Panera Bread.

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Contact Brandon Holveck at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @holveck_brandon.