Davis Street Land Company Opens First Lifestyle Center in St. Charles County, Mo.

200,000 SF Phase I Marries Exclusive Retailers and Park-Like Setting to Create a One-of-a-Kind Shopping Experience

ST. LOUIS – An unhurried pace marked the grand opening of The Meadows at Lake Saint Louis as an estimated 10,000 people took in the charming streetscapes and central plaza, lake, dozen variations of brick and stone, and wide array of distinctive lifestyle retailers and restaurants. Davis Street Land Company unveiled St. Charles County’s first lifestyle center on Aug. 23, 2008 with a day-long gala that ushered in a dynamic new landmark in the St. Louis suburb of Lake Saint Louis, Mo. The first phase includes nearly 30 retailers and restaurants, including 12 opening their only stores in St. Charles County plus three making their Missouri debut. Retailers at The Meadows reported better than expected sales for the weekend opening.

"The Meadows is all about bringing the country’s leading lifestyle retailers to a pedestrian-friendly environment,” said Robert Perlmutter, managing partner of Davis Street Land Company. “We’ve spared no detail in creating a shopping experience that is unique for St. Charles County residents.” Davis Street is co-developing The Meadows with local partner, Bruce Johnston.

Located on a 64-acre site at Lake Saint Louis Boulevard and Interstate 64 (I-64), Davis Street heralded the new landmark’s grand opening in festive fashion, featuring:“With the much-anticipated opening of The Meadows in Lake Saint Louis, lifestyle retail has finally arrived in full force in St. Charles County,” said Greg Prestemon, president and CEO of the Economic Development Center of St. Charles County. “This upscale center will set the new standard for the shopping experience along the Highway 40 corridor and is sure to become a local destination point. The EDC of St. Charles County would like to salute Davis Street Land Company, Bruce Johnston and the city of Lake Saint Louis for taking this trend-setting development from a vision to a real and welcome addition to the local business community.”

Among the retailers and restaurant choosing The Meadows as the site of their ONLY stores in St. Charles County are BC’s Kitchen, Banana Republic, Caché, Chico’s, Clarkson Jewelers, Coldwater Creek, Eddie Bauer, Jos. A. Bank, New Balance St. Louis, Salon Kashmir, Talbots and The Walking Company.

Three retailers will also make their Missouri debut at The Meadows, including Bachrach, Backwoods, the innovative, fast-growing outdoor apparel chain opening in early 2009 and Von Maur Department Store which will open a two-story, 126,000-square-foot store in the fall of 2010.

Other retailers at The Meadows include Aeropostale, Ann Taylor Loft, Bath & Body Works, Christopher & Banks, C.J. Banks, Claire’s, Gymboree, Kay Jewelers, New York & Company, Lenscrafters Optique, Puddle Ducks, Select Comfort, Sunglass Hut, Victoria’s Secret, Yankee Candle, Old Navy and Bed Bath & Beyond.

“The demographics of the region clearly show unfulfilled demand for premium shopping,” said Johnston. “Yet, to my mind, it is the ability to create a memorable, engaging shopping experience that will ultimately drive the long-term success of The Meadows and our tenants.”

Creating the Shopping Experience

Phase I features four retail buildings totaling over 200,000 square feet clustered around an inviting central plaza with seating and performance spaces. A 15-foot tall bronze sculpture by local artist Marty Linson stands at the plaza’s center. A 40-foot-tall clock tower marks the octagonal-shaped plaza with its venue for festive events presented on an inviting stage. A pergola with a redwood trellis forms the backdrop for the stage. Four 12-foot-high stone columns topped with limestone planters mark gateways to the plaza.

Each of The Meadows’ four buildings hosts 10 to 15 retailers. Storefronts contrast deep-set, limestone frames with 11- to 15-plus-foot-tall shop windows and clerestories accented with brick and limestone facades. Shops feature distinctive entrances which emphasize individual brand. Continuity is expressed in cast medallions bearing the logo of The Meadows and store addresses, a limestone ribbon around each building and gabled roofs with slate-style shingles and ornamental copper gutters, downspouts and flashing.

No fewer than a dozen patterns and types of brick pavers and stamped concrete are used to subtly direct way-finding. Cast iron benches and decorative railing framing landscaped stretches add to the charm. The center is planted with more than 100 varieties of trees, grasses and flowers.

Ample parking is designed with a discreet, intuitively navigated roundabout slowing and directing automobile traffic around the plaza.

At night, architectural lighting illuminates elements of building facades shadowed during the day, including basket weave brick patterns beneath eaves and medallions. Landscape lighting and cast iron street lights brighten walks for shoppers.

St. Louis-based Brinkmann Constructors served as the general contractor while another St. Louis firm, M + H Architects, did the design for The Meadows.

The Meadows at Lake Saint Louis is owned, leased and managed by Davis Street Land Company in partnership with Bruce Johnston, a lifetime resident of St. Louis with more than 25 years of retail real estate experience. Based in Chicago, Ill., Davis Street develops and owns upscale specialty and lifestyle centers. The principals of the company are responsible for such unique retail properties as Plaza Frontenac and The Shops at Clarkson Corner in St. Louis, Renaissance Place and Orland Park Crossing in Chicago, The Mall at Green Hills in Nashville, Tenn. and The Gardens on El Paseo in Palm Desert, Calif. To learn more, visit www.dslandco.com.