BeautyFirst closes Ann Arbor store in Arborland Center on Washtenaw Avenue
BeautyFirst, a chain cosmetics retailer and salon, recently closed its Ann Arbor location in the Arborland Center on Washtenaw Avenue.
The 3,000-square-foot store was located between Cold Stone Creamery and Noodles & Company in the outlot portion of Arborland near Starbucks Coffee.
Arborland listing agent Michael Lippitt of Landmark Commercial is marketing the now-vacant space, and he said he’s already received interest from potential tenants.
“We already have some interest levels in the space,” he said. “Because of the heavy traffic in that area, we would prefer to do retail rather than another restaurant, but we’re not closing off the consideration of a restaurant as well.”
Lippitt described the space as having “very prominent frontage” and said he was surprised that BeautyFirst closed with the high volume traffic in Arborland.
There are about 50 BeautyFirst locations nationwide, including four in Michigan.
Other vacancies in Arborland include the 22,941-square-foot Borders space, which closed this spring as part of the company’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization efforts. The space has an annual asking rate of $14 per square foot, according to the listing.
The former Circuit City building has also been empty since the electronics retailer filed for bankruptcy in 2009. The space is listed for $14 per square foot annually.
In July, Joseph A. Bank Clothiers, a national men’s retail chain, opened its 14th Michigan location in the long-closed Bombay furniture store between Potbelly Sandwich Shop and OfficeMax.
Lizzy Alfs is a business reporter for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at 734-623-2584 or email her at lizzyalfs@annarbor.com. Follow her on Twitter at http://twitter.com/lizzyalfs.
Comments
Dot
Wed, Sep 7, 2011 : 12:30 a.m.
The Canton store closed too. It was in a very busy and densely populated retail stretch with easy in and out parking. My take is that it wasn't about the parking as much as the prices. They weren't in line with drugstore prices, they were pricier, yet they didn't offer the service of make-up retailers in the mall stores - Macy, Van Maur, Nordsrtom, Sephora. I went a few times and bought products but it didn't have the appeal for me. Add to this that in the back, hidden away from sight was a salon. That made no sense to me at all. Surprise! we offer salon services. Bad concept - and at Arborland - bad nook-parking too.
Peter
Tue, Sep 6, 2011 : 6:45 p.m.
That parking lot is one of the worst designed parking lots in the world. If only there could be an easily accessible bus stop in the parking lot! Too bad Borders and Circuit City need all those parking spaces though.
Dot
Wed, Sep 7, 2011 : 12:35 a.m.
If the management straightened out the bottle-neck entrance, I could see a nice big Park&Ride. Wouldn't that be somethin'.
Arieswoman
Tue, Sep 6, 2011 : 10:18 a.m.
I liked to go to Beauty First to shop. It is too bad it is closing. My complaint is that the parking lot is almost impossible! I hate that lot. Taking our life into your hands just to shop is just not worth it. Same goes for the other stores there!