All updates from the month of April 2006 are listed below.

"Paiva" concept to open at Natick Mall
Written by Justin on April 17, 2006 at 11:29PM

• One new tenant coming to the Natick Mall is attempting to create a new niche in the fitness category. Paiva, which is owned by Finish Line Inc., is attempting to serve the affluent, fit, at-home woman with a lineup of upscale workout clothing. The first store in the chain opened several days ago in Austin, with the Natick Mall location opening later this month. The Boston Herald has more at http://business.bostonherald.com/businessNews/view.bg?articleid=134895.
  

MWDN checks out the construction at Natick
Written by Justin on April 16, 2006 at 11:58PM

• Today's MetroWest Daily News featured a long story about the ongoing construction at the Natick Mall. While it is mostly an update on how the construction is going, it also features some interesting information: the new parking garage F will be located on the site of the Macy's parking lot, not near the former garage B as other articles had implied. Additionally, the Natick Mall will be undergoing a 14 million dollar renovation to bring the circa 1994 building up to the standards of the new mall. Most of the article brings the original plans to life; looks like the roads are going to be the next big thing to change. The entire story can be viewed at http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=127552.
  

Independent Mobile opens to national notice
Written by Justin on April 16, 2006 at 11:34PM

• It's a smaller MetroWest retail tidbit that I hadn't noticed until recently, but the Cambridge SoundWorks has left Shopper's World (likely as many 10 year leases at the power center are coming up for renewal). It's been replaced by a new cell-phone store, Independent Mobile (also seen IMO), which isn't any ordinary mobile phone store: instead, they're trying to revolutionize the industry. It's big enough that USA Today profiled the chain in a recent story. You can read more about what the company is about at http://www.usatoday.com/tech/products/gear/2006-04-12-imo-cellphone-store_x.htm.
  

MWDN interviews new Natick Mall GM
Written by Justin on April 9, 2006 at 12:31AM

• The Natick Bulletin & TAB recently conducted an interview with Frank Lazorchak, the new general manager of the Natick Mall. The interview is mostly about his experience and how he plans to handle the new construction currently under way. The story is at http://www.townonline.com/natick/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=467762.
  
• And there's a new Beyond Retail entry up: "No Black Allowed" at Abercrombie & Fitch?
  

April 1st brings big Filene's news
Written by Justin on April 1, 2006 at 10:35PM

• The MWDN is reporting that Building 19 has signed leases on many of the soon-to-be vacant Filene's locations. As the Federated-May merger has required the combined company to sell excess stores, and Nordstrom did not choose to take all of the soon-to-be vacant locations, Building 19 has stepped in. New stores will open in Downtown Crossing (which will become the company's new flagship store as Building 19 and 1/0), Hyannis (which will target the affluent tourist population), Nashua, N.H., Warwick, R.I., several others, and, of course, Natick. The Natick store is expected to house the company's entire product line, ranging from clothing to rugs to furniture. Fans of the chain's food products will also be satisfied with the new store; which will devote the entire 3rd floor to delicacies. The Natick location is yet to be assigned a fraction, though analysts are expecting "1/pi" to denote the special food section.
  
• Fans of Building 19's existing location at the 9/27 plaza are not to fear: the company will keep that location open as a "home store".  No word yet on how General Growth feels about the new store, though it is likely to fit well with the mall's foray into upscale shopping with the forthcoming addition of new Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom stores.  More can be found at http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/businessNews/view.bg?articleid=APRILFOOLSDAY.
• And of course, Happy April Fool's Day from Framingham/Natick Retail.
  

Radio Shack to close 9 MA stores, Natick included
Written by Justin on April 1, 2006 at 10:21PM

• Radio Shack will be closing 9 stores in Massachusetts and 2 stores in New Hampshire as the company closes 480 stores across the country. Locally, the shuttered stores will include locations in Wellesley on Linden St.; and both Marlboro and Natick, where it is currently unclear as to which of the company's two stores in each town will be closing. I am working to update this story with the store locations as soon as possible.
• The Wellesley Townsman has a story on the closings at http://www2.townonline.com/wellesley/businessNews/view.bg?articleid=461542.