The Loop Comes to Life
Orlando, Fla. (August 22, 2005) – The Loop, Kissimmee/Orlando’s
new open-air shopping complex, is coming to life. The 440,000- square foot retail
center recently opened its doors to Central Florida shoppers, giving them a first
taste of the vibrant shopping experience The Loop promises to provide. Many of
the shopping center’s stores are open for business, including Pier 1, Ross,
Vitamin World, Petco, HairMasters and Bed Bath & Beyond. More openings are
scheduled to take place over the next few months.
When completed, The Loop will welcome more than 40 businesses to the rapidly
growing region near the Orange and Osceola county borders, including several familiar
restaurants and a 16-screen Regal Cinemas theater. Romano’s Macaroni Grill
and Chili’s are already serving customers starved for convenient dining.
This month will bring an additional eight businesses including Kay Jewelers, Ben
& Jerry’s, Sports Authority, Old Navy, and Dress Barn. The Loop is slated
to be fully operational before the holiday shopping season.
To announce the opening of what promises to be a richly diverse marketplace,
The Loop’s developers, The Wilder Companies, have implemented an innovative
ad campaign reflective of the property’s unique mix. “The Loop is
not like any other retail center out there,” said Andy LaGrega, a Wilder
principal. “The idea is to offer a great blend of stores and dining options
in an open, relaxed and fun setting. We thought the tone of the advertising should
reflect the atmosphere shoppers will find at The Loop.”
Which is why, in the coming weeks, residents of the area will be invited to
“Drape Yourself in Silk and Spicy Meatballs”, a play on the diversity
of shopping options found at the complex (the remainder of the ad reads “Hot
Fashion. Tasty Cuisine. It’s all delicious here.”) Or perhaps to “Rekindle
your Romance with Golf Balls and a Hot Glue Gun,” a nod to Michaels, Sports
Authority, and Chili’s. “It’s all very tongue-in-cheek,”
LaGrega said. “We hope it will make people smile and pique their curiosity
at the same time.”
The clever catchphrases and unusual imagery they bring to mind will begin appearing
in the area shortly. Already, they can be seen onsite at The Loop, on the corner
of John Young and Osceola Parkways, fronting the areas that are not yet open.
Soon, they will grace the sidewalks of the property, and be the focus of a targeted
multimedia campaign.
The Loop is The Wilder Companies’ first foray in the Central Florida
area, but it will not be their last. With other projects in the works in Orlando,
Punta Gorda, and Estero, Wilder has enjoyed a warm reception from Central Florida
shoppers. In fact, plans are already being finalized for an expansion project,
Loop West, adjacent to The Loop retail site. The Wilder Companies are moving on
plans to purchase a 40-acre parcel of land, and intend to add up to 400,000 square
feet of retail space to the property. Loop West will offer a complementary mix
of shopping and dining options to area residents, adding to the diversity of venues
already found at The Loop. Loop West is scheduled to open in late 2007.
Based in Boston, MA, The Wilder Companies specialize in the development and
positioning of retail properties. Wilder has over 30 years experience in merchandising
regional malls, specialty centers and urban, mixed-use properties. The company’s
current portfolio consists of over 35 owned and managed properties nationwide
with an additional two million square feet under development.
For more information visit www.wilderco.com.
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