University Village's Rebirth Taking Shape -- New Store Mix Enhances Down-Home Feel

The recently opened Barnes & Noble superstore, occupying 46,000 square feet and offering more than 125,000 book titles, dwarfs the smaller shops at University Village.

So does a 16,000-square-foot Gap store, the latest big-name retailer to open in the newly renovated shopping complex taking shape on the former site of Lamonts, an apparel retailer that has since moved out of University Village.

Add to the lineup a 19,100-square-foot Eddie Bauer outlet slated to open Aug. 23 directly below The Gap. It will include three businesses under one roof - Eddie Bauer sportswear, Eddie Bauer Home store and A.K.A. Eddie Bauer, which features men's and women's casual clothing for the office.

When complete, the complex will house six new stores.

The addition of national chains to a neighborhood shopping center known for its local merchants marks a growing trend toward large, multi-service outlets.

"We had one big store (Lamonts) here for about 40 years which was essentially a big, white concrete box. Now we've taken the big, white concrete box, opened it up and put in a variety of tenants that serve the community better," said Tom Croonquist, development manager for University Village. "So if anything, it's more of a `village' than it ever used to be."

Perhaps the strongest indication so far was the arrival last month of a two-story Barnes & Noble, purportedly the largest on the West Coast, with a music department for CDs and audio tapes, and an indoor cafe.

In its shadow is Kay Edwards' tiny bookstore, Kay's Bookmark. Edwards said she is saddened when former patrons pass by toting Barnes & Noble bags. But she hopes her big neighbor will attract more book customers to the area and some of them will visit her store, too.

Several surrounding merchants believe that the mega-stores, rather than siphoning away their business, will increase traffic for all.

"Stores like Eddie Bauer and The Gap are a definite upgrade from Lamonts, and are only going to enhance the character of the mall," said Howard Stern, co-owner of Gil Stern Shoes, which has been in the shopping center for 13 years.

Much, in fact, is being done to keep the smaller merchants and maintain - even enhance - the outdoor shopping center's down-home feel. The walkways, for instance, have been widened in recent months, making them "pedestrian-friendly" and more accessible to cyclists.

The main courtyard is being extended the length of the new Barnes & Noble complex. Trees, light poles, outdoor seating, a children's play area, a stage and quaint bronze sculptures of a cow and its calves are being added.

This new Village Square will be the site in September of several open-air events featuring musicians, puppet shows and food-tasting booths.

"One of the most successful parts of the Village has always been the courtyard. The idea is to expand this area by taking what used to be a sterile parking lot with a couple narrow sidewalks and making it into this vibrant community center," Croonquist said. "It's a place where you can come to meet people, buy your cafe latte or brioche, and sit and chat."

The Village, it seems, has been transforming before the eyes of its patrons ever since retail executives Stuart Sloan and Matt Griffin purchased the 24-acre, 70-store site in 1993.

Construction is under way on a 12,000-square-foot food complex directly across the courtyard from the Barnes & Noble building. In it will be Italian restaurant chain Piatti and Minneapolis restaurant Asia Grille by Leann Chin, both scheduled to open in September. Mrs. Cook's, an existing merchant, will also open an expanded cookware store there this month.

In addition, the University Village QFC is obtaining permits to move to the adjacent Foremost Dairy property. The new 60,000-square-foot supermarket could open as early as next summer, Croonquist said.

The merchants who have been at University Village for decades seem to believe that they're still central to the shopping center.

Perhaps the sign that sits above the cash register at Kay's Bookmark says it best: "Yes, we're staying right here. Thank you!"