The Wilder Companies to open three stores and a restaurant - 32,500 s/f

Home furnishings/lifestyle retailer Pottery Barn is opening a new store in Garden City Center, as part of the first phase of a plan by The Wilder Companies to expand, reconfigure and redevelop the historic shopping center. Pottery Barn, consisting of 12,000 s/f will be the larger of two stores located in a new 20,000 s/f building, and is expected to open at Garden City Center in February 2013. The addition of Pottery Barn, next to Papa Razzi, begins an extension of the iconic Village that will eventually turn former large format retail space into a mix of mid-size and smaller specialty stores. Later phases include the addition of several new restaurant spaces and improved traffic and pedestrian links to the Whole Foods Market section of the center. Work is also currently underway to transform the iconic Garden City Center gazebo from the end-cap of the Village into the new focal point for the center. "The arrival of Pottery Barn is a game changer for both our shoppers and for Garden City Center," said Thomas Wilder, a principal of The Wilder Companies; management company of Garden City Center. In time for Thanksgiving Williams-Sonoma will open a newly expanded store in a new location at Garden City Center, diagonally across from its current store. The new 5,400 s/f store is approximately 40% larger than Williams Sonoma's current space and will feature the company's newest exterior design. "Williams Sonoma has been a long-term important partner with Garden City Center, and one of the keys to our ongoing success," said Maria Salvatore representing The Wilder Companies. In late June, Ann Taylor will be opening its second Rhode Island store at Garden City Center. The 4,700 s/f store will be located in the Village, to meet the needs of modern women's busy lifestyles by providing a full range of career, casual and occasion offerings in one location. In another transaction, as part of a two-phased revitalization plan the fresh grill and wine bar restaurant, Seasons 52, has selected Wayside Commons in Burlington as its first Massachusetts location. Taking the 10,400 s/f upper level of the former Border's space, Seasons 52 is known for its seasonally inspired menu and fresh approach to dining. "Wayside opened in 2006 and in that short time retailing has changed dramatically. Our customers are looking for increased shopping and dining choices and today's most desirable merchants have very different space demands. We are making excellent use of both Border's levels by dividing it into two functional spaces. This allows us to introduce a highly popular restaurant like Seasons 52 to the Greater Boston marketplace, and still have room for an additional retailer on the lower level," said David Mallen, a principal of The Wilder Companies; management company for Wayside.