The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

THE New Providence Development Company (NPDco) has leased out 90 per cent of the retail space in its $30 million Old Fort Bay Town Centre, Tribune Business was told yesterday, as it moves to finalise arrangements for a second anchor tenant.

Jane Michele-Bethel, NPDco’s vice-president of real estate, said: “It’s 90 per cent leased out for the retail stores, and we have about 16 stores in there already that are up and running.”

She was confident that the remaining retail spaces would be filled in the coming months. “We’re petty much there. We have a number of people that we are in conversations with for the remaining couple of units. We are also very pleased with the calibre and quality of the interior build. The tenants have really put everything into making their units top class. That’s also very encouraging,” said Ms Michele-Bethel.

“We have some office units on the second floor that we are selling. We have six units that are spoken for, so we do have availability for the office units.

“The level of interest that we have seen thus far is very encouraging from the real estate aspect, as it shows that there is real interest in investing in the development in the Town Centre.

“We are very happy with the way it’s turned out, and have had nothing but positive feedback from the community that uses the Town Centre. We are also still seeing quite a number of people from the east come to visit the Town Centre because they see it more as a destination shopping centre. We’re looking to fill that second anchor spot, and we’re working very hard to finalise some arrangements for that.”

Among the tenants currently occupying space in the Town Centre are Bahamas Design Centre West- a furniture and home accessories store; Bun In the Oven- a maternity store; Dermalogical skincare centre - a skin treatment spa; Going Places travel agency; His fashion- a men’s clothing and accessory store; Liquid Nutrition, a healthy beverage bar; Naughty Johnny’s restaurant; Sushi Rokkan; The Old Fort Bay art gallery; United Colours of Benetton; Your Friendly Pharmacy, Sat Sounds; The Island Furniture Store; and Keg Ranch.

“Happy Pets animal hospital hospital should be opening this week. There is another tenant that is just signed up, but I can’t release that just yet. We have obviously our anchor, which is Solomon’s Fresh Market, and we have Royal Bank which will be completed in the next few months,” said Ms Michele-Bethel.