Columbus Underground
By Melanie McIntyre

Easton’s growth continues with the addition of six new stores, the family-friendly Fenlon Square, and a nearby development that will add more than a half million square feet of retail space.

In February, lifestyle brand Kate Spade opened a 2,200-square-foot store across from the Apple store at Easton Town Center, which will welcome several other well-known retailers this spring.

In July, denim label True Religion is expected to open a 1,500-square-foot store near Express, and luggage company Tumi is slated to open a 1,300-square-foot store next to Anthropologie.

Groovy Spoon Frozen Yogurt is expected to open a 1,100-square-foot store next to Panera in May. Beginning in June, Rusty Bucket Restaurant and Tavern will occupy a 4,600-square-foot space behind Eddie Bauer.

An 11,500-square-foot American Girl store, complete with a café and doll salon, is also slated to open in June. It will be adjacent to the passageway leading to the Macy’s parking garage.

Close by, along Fenlon Street between Macy’s and Gramercy Street, more than half a dozen family-friendly retailers will take up residence at Fenlon Square, a shopping district to be anchored by the aforementioned America Girl store.

Other Fenlon Square tenants will include:
• C. Wonder, a preppy women’s clothing and accessories retailer
• Children’s Place, a clothing store
• Flip Flop Shops, a sandal store
• Hot Mama, a designer clothing store for moms
• Le Chocoholique, a chocolate shop that started in the Short North
• Fuzziwigs Candy Factory
• Stride Rite Shoes

Some Easton stores that cater to the district’s target audience, such as Build-A-Bear Workshop, will relocate there.

Fenlon Square, which will feature a mix of new construction and converted stores, is expected to open in June.

Further down the development pipeline is the 54-acre Easton Gateway, which will be home to two large anchor tenants, as well as nearly 100,000 square feet of small and mid-sized retailers and new restaurant concepts.

Bordered by I-270 to the east and Morse Road to the north, Easton Gateway will add 542,054 square feet of retail space and parking space for almost 3,000 vehicles. It is expected to open in 2014.

More information can be found online at http://www.eastontowncenter.com.