Biltmore Fashion Park

infobox shopping mall
shopping_mall_name = Biltmore Fashion Park


location = 24th Street & Camelback Road, Phoenix, AZ
hours = Mon-Sat 10:00 AM-9:00 PM
Sunday 11:00 AM-6:00 PM
opening_date = 1963
developer = Westcor
management = Westcor
owner = Macerich
number_of_stores = 75+
number_of_anchors = 2
floor_area = convert|611000|sqft|m2|abbr=on
parking = Outdoor & Garage
floors = 1
website = http://www.shopbiltmore.com

Biltmore Fashion Park is an upscale outdoor shopping center located in Phoenix, Arizona. It is owned by Westcor, a company specializing in retail center development, which was purchased by Macerich in 2002. It is located in an upscale area of Phoenix, bordering the popular tourist sites of Scottsdale, Arizona and Paradise Valley.

History

Biltmore Fashion Park opened on 31 acres of land in the heart of the Biltmore region of Phoenix in 1963, anchored by San Francisco's upscale I. Magnin and The Broadway. It opened as the original upscale shopping and dining destination in Phoenix, situated next to a number of Phoenix's most well known landmarks, including the Arizona Biltmore Hotel, today part of The Waldorf-Astoria Collection, and the Wrigley Mansion.

During the 1960s and 1970s, The Gittings Portrait Studio photographed John Wayne, Bob Hope, Princess Grace of Monaco, Barry Goldwater, Red Skelton, Sophia Loren, Al Gore and many other celebrities who frequented the Biltmore.

In 1994, the center was purchased by Taubman Centers for $115 Million, helping Biltmore Fashion Park transform into the premiere luxury shopping destination in Phoenix. During the 90's, the Biltmore underwent a transformation. Both original anchors closed, with Saks Fifth Avenue taking I. Magnin's former space and Macy's taking The Broadway's former space. The center also introduced a number of new luxury retailers, including Cartier, Christofle, Cole Haan, Escada, Gucci, Landau, Lanciani, Louis Vuitton, Max Nugus and Ralph Lauren. The Biltmore was also chosen as one of three sites nationwide for The Galleries of Neiman Marcus; however, Neiman Marcus folded the concept two years later.

The Biltmore continued to remain as the dominant luxury collection in Phoenix, drawing the metropolitan area's sole Allen Edmonds, Apple, Elizabeth Arden, Rangoni Firenze, Stuart Weitzman, and Waterworks stores. Tommy Bahama also opened a flagship store at the center.

In 2006, the Biltmore underwent its first major renovation, with Macerich hoping to revitalize the aging exterior of the center, giving each store more individuality. The redevelopment's mission was to sever the competition between Biltmore Fashion Park and its sister mall Scottsdale Fashion Square. In order to achieve this, Westcor initiated a relocation project of global brand names to Fashion Square to allow more room for "home-grown" and "fashion forward" stores. [http://www.icsc.org/srch/sct/sct1007/retail_botticelli_italian.php Shopping Centers Today ] ] Following Louis Vuitton's move to Fashion Square in 2002, Westcor also transplanted Betsey Johnson, Gucci. The center is signing younger stores, including CALYPSO Christiane Celle, Patagonia, Vera Bradley, and the first Roberto Botticelli in the United States. Despite these luxury movement, Saks Fifth Avenue has expanded its store due to high sales growth. The store has leased space to open Louis Vuitton, Fendi, Chanel Cosmetics, and the first-ever La Prairie boutiques. It also significantly expanded its Prada, Chanel and Gucci vendor shops. [ [http://209.85.173.104/search?q=cache:F8L9AkTAU-UJ:www.saksfifthavenue.com/media/pdf/SAKSFIRST_NEWSLETTER_v1_m56577569831387022.pdf+saks+fendi+phoenix&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=10&gl=us&client=safari 403 Forbidden ] ] [ [http://www.dnrnews.com/site/article.php?id=131 DNR ] ]

Other retailers set to open include Theory and Intermix. [ [http://www.hortonrealtyadvisors.com/project_current.html# Horton Realty Advisors, LLC : PROJECTS ] ]

It is known for many upscale dining establishments. James Beard award-winner Christopher Gross of Christopher's Fermier Brasserie and Paola's Wine Bar top the list of Biltmore Fashion Park's 12 restaurants and eateries.

Major Stores

*Borders (31,000 sq ft.)
*Macy's (213,000 sq ft.)
*Ralph Lauren (12,000 sq ft.)
*Saks Fifth Avenue (90,000 sq ft.)

Restaurants

*The Wine List
*California Pizza Kitchen
*The Capital Grille
*The Cheesecake Factory
*Christopher's Fermier Brasserie
*Oceanaire
*Sam's Cafe, a Southwestern Grill
*Steamer's Genuine Seafood
*Three Dog Bakery

External links

* [http://www.shopbiltmore.com/controller/site Biltmore Fashion Park]
* http://www.AzBiltmore.com - "'AzBiltmore.com - Neighborhood Portal & Website of the Arizona Biltmore Estates"'

References