Rising adjacent to the confluence of South Grand Central Parkway, West Charleston Boulevard and Interstate 15, World Market Center is an integrated home and hospitality contract furnishings showroom and convention complex in Las Vegas, a place where designers and manufacturers lease space to show off their latest products to retailers and other wholesale buyers. WMC was conceived by real estate developers Jack Kashani and Shawn Samson in 1999. In 2004, they brought on the Related Cos. LP of New York City to help finance the development.

building four on right

The fourth building is slated to get under way later this year and open in early 2010. When completed, World Market Center will have six million sf of permanent showrooms, making it the largest wholesale merchandise mart in the country. The overall $3-billion development plan calls for 12 million sf in eight buildings to be completed by 2013.

The first two levels of Building D will include flex space allowing for up to 150,000 sf of temporary exhibits to co-locate with the permanent showrooms during Las Vegas Market. Project officials also plan to use the flex space on a year round basis for special events and industry exhibits. Seven of the upper floors are slated to be occupied by US furniture companies. Another six floors are slated for will gift and home textiles companies.

Also this week, WMC introduced Bob Maricich as its new president and chief executive, replacing Harvey Dondero, and bade farewell to its general manager, Dave Palmer, who is retiring.