Opus North Announces the Grand Opening of The Shoppes at Fox River with Target and Pick n’ Save

MILWAUKEE, WI – September 23, 2009 – (RealEstateRama) — Opus North Corporation has announced the grand opening of Phase I at The Shoppes at Fox River, a 54-acre, 500,000 square-foot shopping center at 1200 W. Sunset Drive in Waukesha, Wisc. The Shoppes at Fox River will be the sixth largest retail center in the Milwaukee area and the largest in the city of Waukesha upon completion of the project.

Two of the development’s anchor tenants, a 132,000-square-foot Target and a 60,000-square-foot Pick ‘n Save grocery store, helped kick off the grand opening. The Pick ‘n Save store is poised for LEED certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.

“This development has been a long time coming as the pent-up demand for retail options in southern Waukesha has continued to increase over the years,” said John Meyers, vice president of retail development for Opus North. “The feedback from the surrounding community has been very positive as shoppers have been able to take advantage of this new retail project and its excellent location.”

In addition to the Target and Pick and Save opening eight retailers are scheduled to open in Phase I at The Shoppes of Fox River later this year. They include a 14,000-square-foot CVS pharmacy on a 1.9-acre outlot, a 5,000-square-foot Chili’s restaurant on a 1.3-acre outlot, Buffalo Wild Wings, Subway, GNC, Verizon, GameStop and Noodles & Company. Construction is also underway for a 13,500 square foot Petco store, Maurice’s and Famous Footwear that will open in the spring of 2010.

The Shoppes at Fox River will offer another 250,000 square feet of development in Phase II, including space for anchor tenants, as well as space for mid-box, junior and small-space tenants. Outlot space is also available. Opus teamed with Michael Fitzgerald and Dan Rosenfeld of Mid-America Real Estate-Wisconsin for the retail leasing efforts, and are actively working with several national and local retailers on commitments for Phase II

In addition to filling a void for the area in terms of retail and sit-down restaurants, The Shoppes at Fox River is also one of the only new developments in Waukesha to be designed as a pedestrian-friendly shopping center, surrounded by established housing.

“This is a suburban infill location that can easily support new retail development,” said Meyer. “While the Shoppes of Fox River is centrally located for motorists, the shopping center will be accessible via bike and walking paths.”

In fact, the development links up to the Glacial Drumlin State Trail a 50-mile bike trail that starts in Waukesha. Shoppers will also be able to enjoy the center’s extensive landscaping; numerous seating areas, such as benches and a gazebo; and a series of public art projects sponsored by Opus North. The art exhibit includes six colorful fox statues placed throughout the development, created by the local community through a program directed by the City of Waukesha and Jeff Hook, the Opus North Project Manager.

Designed by Minneapolis-based KKE Architects, The Shoppes at Fox River features a coordinated architectural theme. Each retail store will have specialized finishes per each tenant’s requirements.

For more information or leasing opportunities, contact Michael Fitzgerald and Dan Rosenfeld of Mid-America Real Estate-Wisconsin, L.L.C. at (414) 273-4600.

About Opus North Corp.

Opus North, Corp., is a full-service design-build development firm with expertise in office, industrial, retail, multifamily, government and institutional projects. Headquartered in Chicago, Opus North has developed more than 315 projects totaling more than 50 million square feet of space since starting operations in 1972. Committed to creating great real estate, Opus implements best practices in sustainable design and construction to maximize building performance and reduce environmental impact. For more information, visit www.opuscorp.com

Editor’s Note: For more information, please contact Kim Manning at 312-267-4513 or kmanning (at) tjopr (dot) com.