"They've established a position and can now come out and do it on their own," surmised Steve Neville of New & Neville, a local retail brokerage firm that runs with several national players, though not this one. "It's a natural evolution for some of the more successful retailers."

Of the location, Neville says although downtowns can be hit or miss – "there is such a thing as being a block on and a black off," he says – certain corridors have proven successful, and Neville believes the space Williams-Sonoma is taking is one of them.

Parent company Williams Sonoma Inc. is doing more than just moving its nameplate store out of Pioneer Place, however. It's taking its Pottery Barn and Hold Everything brands out as well -- though not replacing them elsewhere -- opening up around 10,800 sf in Pioneer Place. Scribner's also recent vacated the indoor mall owned by The Rouse Co.