Sephora opened Sept. 3
NORTH MECK | Sept. 9. Look for changes at Birkdale Village including a new paint scheme, new tenants and an all-around effort to make the 52-acre mixed-use project the perfect “third place” where there’s a sense of community that Facebook and Instagram can’t provide.
Sociologist Ray Oldenburg says a third place is where people spend time between home and work—our first and second places. They are locations where we exchange ideas, have a good time and build relationships.
And shop. Mayor John Aneralla called Birkdale Village the “crown jewel” of Huntersville.
Sephora opened Sept. 3, good news in a challenging brick-and-mortar retail environment. But along with the opening comes a subtle reconfiguration of the steps to the upstairs apartments.
Activating retail
Throughout the development the apartment steps will be rebuilt so they come straight out, rather than to either side of a stoop.
The change will help new mall owner North American Properties “activate” adjacent storefronts that were partially covered by steps.
Birkdale Village is the first investment in Charlotte for NAP, which along with Nuveen Real Estate, now owns the property.
Traffic circle
The traffic circle around the fountain will no longer go all the way around. The segment between Dressler’s and Starbucks will be closed to enhance the street-level experience for shoppers who are now known as “guests.”
Birkdale Village has some five dozen stores and restaurants ranging from Dick’s Sporting Goods and Barnes & Noble to Buttermilk Sky Pie Shop and Dressler’s Restaurant.
Along with 250,000 square feet of retail, Birkdale Village has 320 apartments and 50,000 square feet of office space.
Security
As shopping centers like Concord Mills and Northlake Mall face security challenges, North American is ramping up security hours by two-thirds. They’ve also asked Huntersville Police to pay close attention to motorists whose cars purposely backfire while circling the outdoor mall.
They’re also power-washing of sidewalks five days a week, public restrooms, Wi-Fi upgrades for seamless streaming throughout the property and even valets who know your name.
More to come
In the planning stages is a space for 10 to 12 small businesses that sell from booths, a beer garden and concierge services which would include building a concierge station.
