Mary P. Green
Holtzman & McKey
407-506-2960
writemary@aol.com

The Wilder Companies Gearing Up For Loop West, The Rialto Groundbreakings

Dual Ceremonies To Celebrate Developer's Expanding Presence in Central Florida

ORLANDO, Fla. (January 17, 2007) – Citing unprecedented response to its lifestyle shopping complex The Loop in Kissimmee, opened May 2005, The Wilder Companies announced today the January 23 official groundbreaking for Loop West.

“While we anticipated substantial interest in The Loop, consumer and retailer demand quite simply has eclipsed the center’s capacity,” said Tom Wilder, one of the principals of The Wilder Companies. “Loop West will complement the venues located at The Loop, allowing us to provide an even more diverse mix of shopping and dining choices to the citizens of southern Orange and northern Osceola Counties.”

Located adjacent to The Loop on a 47-acre parcel of land fronting Osceola Parkway and Thacker Avenue, Loop West will feature 400,000 square feet of retail space incorporating an array of department stores, specialty retailers and casual dining venues. Anchor tenants include Belk and JC Penney.

The lineup of Loop West retailers will build upon the more than 40 retailers at The Loop, among them specialty anchors Kohl’s, Regal Cinemas, Old Navy, Bed, Bath and Beyond, Michael’s and Sports Authority and specialty stores Aeropostale, Pac Sun, American Eagle, Sunglass Hut, Panera Bread and Johnny Rockets.

“Our goal is to create a total shopping experience for customers in the trade area,” said Wilder principal Andy LaGrega, who is responsible for the company’s retail leasing.

“Building upon the tenant mix at The Loop, our merchandising plan incorporates new department stores, additional specialty anchors and a whole series of lifestyle tenants not currently in this region of the market,” LaGrega added. “With the combination of The Loop and Loop West, we are creating a shopping environment unmatched in southern Orlando.”

Loop West tenant openings are scheduled for Spring 2008.

The Loop concept was conceived and developed by The Wilder Companies as a casually friendly shopping destination that complements today’s busy lifestyles by combining retail, dining, and entertainment in an open-air, pedestrian-friendly environment. The Loop-Methuen, Mass. opened first and was followed by The Loop-Orlando.

Also on January 23, The Wilder Companies will celebrate groundbreaking on The Rialto.

The highly anticipated upscale mixed-use development in the Dr. Phillips area will feature specialty retailers, deluxe office condominiums and the 200-unit Intermezzo at The Rialto luxury condominium homes community.

Located on a 13-acre parcel of land on Sand Lake Road due west of the I-4 exit, the 350,000-square-foot “lifestyle” destination will consist of approximately 20 retail shops, fine-dining restaurants and cafes, and approximately 48,000 square feet of well-appointed office space.

The Rialto will take full advantage of its 1,000 feet of Sand Lake Road frontage as well as the property’s scenic views of Spring Lake and will feature a contemporary Italian/Mediterranean-inspired architecture, lush landscaping and a pedestrian-friendly layout.

“With such a spectacular location and a discerning population, it was important that we create a venue that not only complements its surroundings, but also addresses the relative lack of high-end retailers in the area,” said David Mallen, the third of the Wilder principals. ”With the line-up we have in place thus far at The Rialto, we anticipate a very positive response.”

Among the retailers are Sadler's Fine Clothiers; state-of-the-art modern lighting group GLOW; and Stella Luca Salon.

Additionally, The Rialto will feature a number of tenants new to the Central Florida market, among them:

• Specialty wine retailer Cork & Olive®;
• Chicago-based Bar Louie, a casually cool, urban-style neighborhood restaurant and bar popular for its signature sandwiches, wine bar and handcrafted martinis;
• The first Florida location and only the third location nationally of upscale seafood dining establishment Blue Coral Seafood & Spirits, created by Bill Allen and Paul Fleming of Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar fame in a joint venture with OSI Restaurant Partners, Inc.™
• J. Alexander’s®, a classic American restaurant concept positioned between heavily themed casual dining concepts and fine-dining dinner houses;
• Italian modern kitchen cabinet maker Veneta Cucine.

ABOUT THE WILDER COMPANIES

Based in Boston, Mass., The Wilder Companies specialize in the development and positioning of retail properties. Wilder has over 30 years experience in merchandising specialty centers, urban-street retail, mixed-use properties and regional malls. The company’s current portfolio consists of over 35 owned and managed properties nationwide with an additional four million square feet under development including The Loop, a one-million square foot + development of retail, residential and office space at Routes 9 and 20 in Northborough, Mass. and The Loop-Punta Gorda, Fla., with 1.2 million square feet of retail space, 500 residences, offices and a hotel opening in 2008.

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