Americana tenants listed

DOWNTOWN GLENDALE — Barnes & Noble Booksellers and national eatery The Cheesecake Factory are among a list of retailers recently confirmed as future tenants of the Americana at Brand.

The 15-acre, $369-million, mixed-use project began construction in June 2006 and has an expected completion date set for Spring 2008.

As of Monday, retail space in the development was already more than 80% leased, said Todd M. Russell, senior vice president of leasing and marketing with Americana developer Caruso Affiliated.

Newly announced tenants also include handbag and footwear designer Kate Spade, men and women’s apparel store J. Crew and Barneys New York CO-OP — a casual off-shoot of the upscale department store.

“Those brands are a testament to the vibrancy of that marketplace,” Russell said. “It’s clearly a vibrant, hip market.”

Barnes & Noble, which currently operates a store in the Glendale Fashion Center at 245 N. Glendale Ave., plans to close its doors at that location the day before the Americana opens, said Stacey Campbell, assistant manager of the Glendale store.

“It’s good because we’re not leaving the area and this store’s not going to leave until the last possible minute,” Campbell said. “I think we’ll have a lot more foot traffic being across the street from the [Glendale] Galleria, and being in the Americana.”

The Americana, which business leaders and city officials say has contributed to increased interest among major retailers in the downtown area, seems to be bringing in a new brand of retailer to the city, said Judee Kendall, executive vice president of the Glendale Chamber of Commerce.

“They’re just a different taste, a little more upscale, a little trendier,” Kendall said.

Having nearly a full roster of committed tenants a year before expected completion of construction is a testament to the reputation of Rick Caruso, Caruso Affiliated’s chief executive officer, Kendall said.

The Los Angeles-based developer’s resume includes The Grove in Los Angeles and The Commons at Calabasas.

“I think it’s Caruso,” Kendall said. “Retailers know his history, his background. If you look at any of his projects, they’ve all been highly successful, and I think it’s faith in him that brings retailers here, and the fact that the Galleria, which has a fantastic history, is across the street, so it’s a good combination.”

Swedish clothing giant H&M;, which has signed a lease for 30,000 square feet, is one of the largest retailers planned for the site, Russell said.

CONFIRMED AMERICANA TENANTS

Barnes & Noble; Barneys New York CO-OP; Brunello Ristorante Italiano; Calidora Spa; Concept Five; Crewcuts (a division of J. Crew); Divine Boutique; Free People; J. Crew; Kate Spade; Michael Stars; Pinkberry; Sur La Table; The Cheesecake Factory; True Religion; Anthropologie; A/X Armani Exchange; Art of Shaving; Aveda Lifestyle Salon; BCBG Max Azria; Chico’s; H&M; Juicy Couture; Kiehl’s; Lacoste; Lucy Kid; Lululemon Athletica; Marciano; Martin + Osa; Planet Funk; Play; Puma; Sigrid Olsen and Urban Outfitters.

Another round of tenants is expected to be released in the fall.