MADISON, WI—WS Development, the Massachusetts-based firm that owns and manages this city's Hilldale Shopping Center, has just signed the first group of new retailers that will open the redesigned center in fall 2014. The company plans to transform the enclosed mall into an open-air lifestyle center with new stores and outward facing storefronts along the existing streets.

Metcalfe's Market, Macy's, Target and Sundance Cinemas anchor the 474,000-square-feet Hilldale, which currently has more than 55 stores including national retailers such as Anthropologie, The North Face, and Title Nine. The municipal entitlement process has begun and WS hopes to begin construction in early 2014. They will take the existing enclosed mall area between Metcalfe's and Macy's and create an open air streetscape including a pedestrian walkway to the west parking lot with additional storefronts.

“The property has been an important part of the Madison community for over 50 years and this redesign will complement the existing Macy's, Sundance, Metcalfe's and local retail flavor of Hilldale,” says Michael McNaughton, senior vice president from WS Development.