Rob Cleveland refuses to sit on the sidelines and hope that something good will happen with the former Target store in the Fairplain Plaza, at the Orchards Mall which goes on the auction block next week, or any other major retail opportunity in his Cornerstone Alliance service area. He teamed up recently with Benton Charter Township Superintendent Kelli Nelson and hit the road to visit the International Council of Shopping Centers RECon Conference in Las Vegas in search of the ideal solution.
RECon is the largest commercial real estate conference in the world.
Cornerstone Alliance asked Benton Charter Township to attend that major event in order to gain a better understanding of the retail market, and to meet with real estate experts from around the nation.
Rob Cleveland’s main focus was the vacant building that formerly housed Target, followed closely by other retail opportunities in Benton Charter Township.
Cleveland calls it, “An important time for our community to be represented at the largest commercial real estate event in the world. Obviously, Benton Charter Township is the retail hub of our community, and we have several opportunities in front of us currently.” The chief economic development professional in Berrien County says, “The vacant building that used to house the Target store is a primary focus of ours. It is important that we find a new user, or users, to utilize that quality space. Additionally, there are many unknowns about the future of the mall.”
It was a perfect opportunity for Cleveland and Benton Township’s Kelli Nelson to spend a lot of quality time with Daniel Stern who owns Lormax Stern, the developers and operators of the Fairplain Plaza, where the Target store was anchored. Rob says, “That was a very important aspect of us attending the event. While Stern owns the Fairplain Plaza, he also has a very strong interest in what happens at the vacant Target store, as well as at the Orchards Mall. He and his firm have invested heavily in our community and they are big supporters of Benton Charter Township, Benton Harbor and St. Joseph.”
I reached out to Kelli as well for her thoughts on this great opportunity. She says, “Recruiting retail is very competitive and Benton Township wants to be proactive and posed for bringing new retail business to the area.” She adds, “We want area residents to be able to have shopping and dining needs met locally.”
Regarding the world’s largest commercial real estate conference, Kelli says, “ICSC RECon was an enlightening experience and the sheer number of attendees and booths at the conference was impressive. Booths ranged from professionals selling retail consulting services to commercial real estate experts to municipalities recruiting retailers and to retailers and restaurants showing off their goods. Many booths had meeting spaces and packed schedules with back to back meetings.”
Working continually with site developers and other business professionals, Cleveland says, “Kelli and I also met with real estate specialists regarding potential new national retailers that could have interest in a location in the Fairplain Plaza. We received great feedback on strategy and site preparation, as well as many ideas regarding ways to maximize our existing spaces.”
Cornerstone not only hit the ground running at the conference in Vegas, a week later Cleveland and his colleagues were showcasing the entire region of Michigan’s Great Southwest to site selectors by hosting them at the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship all of last week.
Benton Township officials are voicing thanks for Cleveland’s interest in keeping the area in the line of vision of top development officials. Nelson says, “Benton Township is thankful for the partnership with Cornerstone Alliance and the support and role they have played in helping to retain retail and seek tenants for vacant store fronts.” She adds, “We intend to continue to network with retail specialists and developers that we met at the conference and will continue to seek ways to incentivize retailers to come to Benton Township.”
It’s never an easy task. As Cornerstone’s Cleveland reminds us, “The retail and commercial industry is driven solely by demographics, drive time and headcount. While retail attraction does not create new, primary jobs, Cornerstone Alliance recognizes the importance of the retail experience for our residents, as well as the need to have quality retailers in order to attract and retain new employees. Therefore, it’s important that we do all we can to help developers, investors and the township find quality tenants.”
Stay tuned as the team continues to prime the pump and to showcase the quality of life, amenities and resources available in the heart of Michigan’s Great Southwest retail community and beyond.
