Work could begin by the end of the summer on a 40,000
square foot town center-style retail complex north of WestGate Mall.
The development, featuring a courtyard and fountain, would
be the latest addition to the Westgate Pointe complex that includes two hotels,
a pair of restaurants, a convention center and a movie theater.
Development company Pinnacle Hospitality has had
discussions with Marble Slab Creamery, a coffee shop and several clothiers,
company real estate manager Phil Simmons said.
No lease agreements have yet been reached.
"You've got to have the product ready before you can
go out and market it," Sinclair said.
The new retail site would be the latest in a cluster of
developments near the intersection of Highway 29 and I-26.
The area has seen a spate of development in recent years
including the Dorman Centre and, among others, a new Lowe's home improvement
and Best Buy stores.
More development is planned in the area, including a
Costco Wholesale outlet and Olive Garden restaurant.
More to come?
Depending on how the new retail Westgate Pointe
development does, more retail could follow in the complex, said Pinnacle
president Sam Shanbhag.
Sinclair said Pinnacle would try to attract new retail
stores that would complement WestGate Mall shops and would not try to pull
shops out of the mall.
Although he had not spoken with Shanbhag about the
development, WestGate Mall general manager Ronald Thomas said the mall had long
expected more development at Westgate Pointe and welcomed it.
"It would be exactly the kind of synergy we've been
looking for," Thomas said. "(Sambhag) typically does a quality
development."
He said growth in the area was making the west side a
prime retail spot.
"Now you've got national tenants that are looking at Spartanburg
just as quickly as they look at
Thomas added that WestGate Mall was doing well and would
have only a two percent vacancy rate by year's end.
Real estate agents said retail space in the area has been
at a premium.
"There's just not much product out there for people
to lease," said Ben Hines of Spencer Hines Properties.
Some, however, questioned whether WestGate point is well
positioned to attract retail business. While the development fronts I-26, it is
set back from
Hines said he initially doubted whether the popular
"I thought it would be very difficult to gross
sales-wise," Hines said.
Pinnacle also hopes to break ground on a new hotel in the
area within a year.
Shanbhag said Pinnacle has had discussions with three
hotel chains for a 125- to 150-room select service hotel. The hotel would
feature a restaurant and be marketed to clients who want more luxuries than the
typical hotel.
"We don't want to compete with the Marriott,"
Shanbhag said.
Shanbhag said the two other hotels at Westgate Pointe are
doing brisk business.
The Holiday Inn Express Hotel and Suites has had an
occupancy rate of between 78 percent and 82 percent in 2006, while the Hampton
Inn & Suites has had an occupancy rate of 65 percent to 69 percent,
according to Pinnacle.
Alexander Morrison can be reached at 562-7270 or
alex.morrison@shj.com.