Under the redevelopment, Nordstrom will occupy part of the existing Burdines building and become a mall anchor. The new store--the company's third in greater Palm Beach County--is set to open in spring 2006. The store will enable the company to serve more Palm Beach-area customers, according to Geevy Thomas, executive vice president and regional manager for the southern states region for Nordstrom. "We've heard from many customers that they love shopping at the Gardens because the mall offers so much," Thomas says in a statement. "We want to be where our customers want us to be."

Federated Department Stores Inc. is consolidating its Burdines and Macy's stores into a larger Burdines-Macy's store, a merchandising strategy. The Burdines-Macy's store is to expand in the former Macy's building. The 90,000 sf will allow the store to add furniture and home furnishings. Plans call for the mall's existing Burdines store to close.

In further mall growth, Saks Fifth Avenue plans to expand its store by 35,000 sf of luxury retail space, as Fred Wilson, chairman and CEO of Saks Fifth Avenue Enterprises, acknowledges the growth in the Palm Beach Gardens market.