Construction continues on Arbor Hills Crossing; the shopping center's first tenant announces a spring opening.
Angela Smith for AnnArbor.com
For those who've been watching construction on Washtenaw Avenue between Platt Road and Huron Parkway in Ann Arbor, wondering what retail businesses are moving in, here comes the first answer.
Arbor Hills Crossing, the new shopping center under construction across from Whole Foods in Huron Village, has signed a lease with Hot Mama, an upscale nationally recognized boutique that will be opening next spring.
Founder Megan Tamte and husband Michael opened the first Hot Mama in Edina, Minn., in 2004.
According to an email, the shop caters to “the mom niche,” particularly those who are over 30 and wants to stay on-trend in fashion, parenting and lifestyle.
Hot Mama offers over 50 boutique brands, focusing on contemporary designer apparel and premium denim, according to the website.
Hot Mama has two other Michigan locations, in Rochester Hills and East Grand Rapids.
Jennifer Hartley, who works for the corporation, said Hot Mama aims to add multiple locations within a metropolitan area to make shopping more convenient for on-the-go, active moms.
Hartley calls Arbor Hills Shopping "a new retail center that promises to be the dominant center in the Ann Arbor market."
The shopping center's property extends over 7.45 acres, at 3000 Washtenaw Ave. where it meets Platt Road. The area was previously targeted for development in 2006 as the Shops at Arlington, but it went through foreclosure and was sold.
The new site plan calls for four buildings that will make up 90,700 square-feet of new development by O'Neal Construction of Ann Arbor. The O'Neal website shows renderings of the project, which is to include retail, residential and business tenants.
Hot Mama Clothing Boutique in Gaslight Village, East Grand Rapids, MI
photo sourced online
Nationwide, there are more than 30 Hot Mama Boutiques, and the company has plans to open 11 additional locations in 2013.