City, Yale Announce Major Retail Expansion for Broadway

- In a big boost to downtown redevelopment efforts, Mayor John DeStefano and Yale University Vice President Bruce Alexander announced today that three businesses, including a national urban clothing store, plan to open their doors on Broadway.

The new tenants are designed to enhance the retail mix in ways that were identified by a series of student and community focus groups and surveys that were conducted last fall.

Specifically:

Cutler’s Records, a long-time Broadway merchant, has signed an eight-year lease for a new store at 27 Broadway, which will feature a new layout, larger selection, and enhanced browsing atmosphere. It will open on the new site this fall.

The Ivy Noodle, an authentic Chinese Cafe, has signed a lease for 316 Elm Street, near the corner of Park Street. The new cafe, which will stay open until 2 a.m. to serve student and other late-night diners, will be owned and operated by Coreen Guo, a local chef and entrepreneur, and is scheduled to open later this fall.

Urban Outfitters, a national retailer known for its stylish clothing and accessories, has signed a lease for over 12,000 feet on two floors to be built in a new building at 45 Broadway. Scheduled to open in Fall 2000, the Broadway site will be the chain’s first location in Connecticut.

“Downtown, the traditional heart of the City, just keeps getting stronger,” the Mayor said. “The new stores in the Broadway District are complemented by stores and restaurants that have opened in recent months throughout downtown. Retail downtown works because it is able to take advantage of the 12,000 residents, the 35,000 job holders and the thousands of people who come downtown each day. Yale has done a great job helping to build an even stronger downtown.”

“The best retailing comes from a mix of many good local merchants and a few strong national tenants,” Alexander said. “That is our objective on Broadway. We are creating a place that will attract a wide variety of shoppers to support the merchants when students are not on campus, and one that will be lively night and day, with evening entertainment at the York Square Cinema and the Barnes & Noble Yale Bookstore.”

Today’s announcements come on the heels of a busy summer on Broadway.

Au Bon Pain has completed a major remodeling – providing improved seating areas, better lighting, and more outdoor seating – and the restaurant has plans for an exterior remodeling to occur in the next several months. Already doing great business, the restaurant will extend its hours until midnight to accommodate increasing late-night activity in the Broadway area.

Frozen Fusion, a new smoothie cafe, has opened in the Barnes & Noble Cafe in the Yale Bookstore.

Barnes & Noble, which has enjoyed a 13 percent increase in sales over last year, has significantly expanded its selection of household furnishings, snack foods, and drug and convenience items.

Team Computer has opened a new location for computer sales, service, and training on the second floor at 17 Broadway.

Phil’s Hair Styles on Broadway has moved directly upstairs to newly remodeled space at 17 Broadway.

These changes continue the Broadway redevelopment that began in 1994 when Yale and the City joined forces to bring infrastructure improvements to the district, including wider sidewalks, better parking, lighting, signage, and the improvement of public areas.

For more information on the Broadway Redevelopment, contact Matthew Jacobs at 432-8619.

For leasing opportunities in the Broadway District, contact John Pollard at 432-8307.