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Barnes & Noble and REI to Join Biltmore Park Town SquareTwo National Retailers to Open Fall of 2008 Asheville, N.C., May 21, 2007 – Crosland LLC one of the Southeast’s leading, diversified real estate companies, and joint-venture partner Biltmore Farms LLC, have signed Barnes & Noble and Recreational Equipment, Inc. (REI) as anchor tenants in Biltmore Park Town Square, a master planned 42-acre, $204 million mixed-use regional destination in south Asheville, located at Interstate 26 and Long Shoals Road.“We are pleased to bring these two outstanding national retailers to Biltmore Park,” said Charles Thrift, senior leasing associate for Crosland. “As we continue to develop this regional shopping destination, we expect to announce additional national restaurants and retailers in the near future.” REI will provide top brands for camping, climbing, cycling, paddling, hiking, travel and snow sports including its own line of award-winning branded gear, apparel and Novara bicycles. The 29,000 square-foot two-story store will also feature a community room with capacity for 50 to enjoy classes, presentations and events. The company is known for its broad product offerings, knowledgeable employees and involvement in the communities in which the co-op operates. The company is committed to promoting the environmental stewardship and increasing access to outdoor recreation though education, volunteerism, gear donations and financial contributions. In 2006, REI supported 14 conservation and outdoor recreation nonprofit organizations in North Carolina. “We look forward to opening our store in Asheville in late 2008 and being a resource to outdoor enthusiasts of all abilities,” said REI Retail Director Gail Kirkland. “The area boasts some of the most exciting recreational opportunities along the East Coast, in Asheville and more than 1.6 million acres of public lands within 50 miles.” Barnes & Noble, the nation’s largest bookseller and a Fortune 500 company, will serve as an additional anchor tenant for Biltmore Park’s retail component and will be located along the project’s main esplanade situated among an array of specialty shops and restaurants, and fronting an outdoor plaza featuring sitting areas and pedestrian pathways. The 28,504 square foot bookstore will reside below luxury residences, providing a vibrant and bustling urban environment. Barnes & Noble stores feature the best in service and depth of selection, reflecting a community place where people of all ages can come to discover, be entertained or just relax. This will be Barnes & Noble’s second location in the Asheville area, and will open in the fall of 2008 in concert with the largest collection of lifestyle specialty retailers in Western North Carolina. |
