New store to boost Columbia Place

Steve & Barry’s University Sportswear’s opening today at Columbia Place is pivotal for the Northeast Richland mall, which is redefining itself.

In the two years since JC Penney’s left the mall to move farther north to the Village at Sandhill, several other mall tenants have done the same or have open second locations at the new center.

H. Rubin Vision Centers and a Hallmark store were the latest to relocate.

Fortunately for the mall, Columbia’s only Macy store and one of two Dillard’s stores remain and announced no plans to leave.

Steve & Barry’s, selling clothing staples of T-shirts and pants for about $10 apiece, is expected to help the mall become a destination shop for working families.

The average household income within a three-mile radius of the mall and nearby Decker Boulevard was $59,560 in 2006.Metrowide, average household income was estimated at $60,100.

And the mall is about 10 minutes away from the military families stationed at Fort Jackson.

Britt Beemer , retail analyst with Charleston-based America’s Research Group, said adding Steve & Barry’s to the Columbia Place mix is good.

“It’s the best of both worlds. They have a new tenant and a retailer ... that has an avant garde, cutting edge (approach) to low prices,” Beemer said. “It is the worst thing for a mall to have a huge section in the dark.”

Steve & Barry’s will occupy the top floor of the former two-story JC Penney store.

New Jersey-based Burlington Coat Factory is planning to open a store on the bottom floor, though no opening date has been announced.

• DirectBuy coming to Northeast Richland

One of at least four warehouse spaces being constructed in Northeast Richland near a Clemson University poultry inspection center at 500 Clemson Road will be occupied by Indiana-based DirectBuy.

DirectBuy will occupy a building spanning 18,000 square feet, according to the Grubbs & Ellis commercial real estate firm.

DirectBuy, a membership-only outlet, sells furniture, floor tiling, lighting and home and entertainment accessories.

• Chatter

• More Vino 100 wine stores are coming to South Carolina. Kevin Wyatt, owner of the Vino 100 store in Northeast Richland, said this week that he and the owner of the Simpsonville Vino 100 store are partnering to open at least 12 more across the state. Wyatt said he hopes to open a third S.C. location in Lexington within a year.

• The popular Tranquil Moments Day Spa & Boutique has moved three blocks from its original space on Devine Street. With a newly added relaxation room, the spa has settled in at 715 Queen St.

• Looking for cakes and treats for your pooch? Three Dog Bakery opened this week at 625 Harden St. The shop’s self-proclaimed “pawprietor” is Debbie Edens.Three Dog Bakery is a Kansas City, Mo.-based franchise with another S.C. location in Charleston.

Each week, Delawese Fulton, retail reporter for The State, will provide the latest retail development news. The goal is to give you the skinny on the new stores in your neighborhood, as well as any businesses closing. If you have any retail news, contact Fulton at (803) 771-8659 or ddfulton@thestate.com.

ABOUT STEVE & BARRY’S

Steve & Barry’s University Sportswear opens its fourth S.C. store today at Columbia Place mall. The New York-based chain sells jeans, sneakers, accessories and collegiate hoodies, T-shirts and hats at an average price of $10 each.

The retailer recently acquired a clothing line of “Sex and the City” star Sarah Jessica Parker and sells the Starbury line of sneakers from NBA stars Stephon Marbury and Ben Wallace.

The chain has S.C. locations in Camden, Sumter and Rock Hill.