Construction at Delray Marketplace

Frank Theatres, which is based in Jupiter, is planning to build a new IMAX theater in Delray Beach, the Palm Beach Post reported. The Frank Theatre Cinegrill and Bowl at the Delray Marketplace retail center will include the theater, as part of a total of 12 screens and a bowling alley at the complex. Construction at Delray Marketplace began in March by SIKON Construction Company. the center is located at the northwest corner of West Atlantic Avenue and Lyons Road. [Palm Beach Post]

A rendering of Delray Marketplace

The 258,000-square-foot Delray Marketplace retail center project has begun construction with Deerfield Beach-based SIKON Construction Company. The center, which is located at the northwest corner of West Atlantic Avenue and Lyons Road, will feature shopping, restaurants and entertainment, and is set for completion Nov. 15 of this year. Project owner Kite Realty owns a portfolio of 63 operating and redevelopment properties nationwide. — Alexander Britell

From left: Delray Marketplace, Promenade at Coconut Creek and the Shops at Pembroke Pines

Both shoppers and retail developers throughout the U.S., and especially in South Florida, are increasingly eschewing indoor malls for outdoor shopping centers, according to the Sun-Sentinel.

Outdoor centers allow consumers to drive through and scan stores quickly, rather than walking through a maze of outlets, and they can park nearest the stores they choose to frequent. Parking is usually easier in outdoor malls because of the series of small lots they utilize over the large garages favored by malls. Further, consumers like the fact that outdoor complexes provide a “downtown” setting to suburban communities and developers prefer the flexibility they offer to attract an array of tenants. [more]

A rendering of Delray Marketplace

Construction on the Delray Marketplace shopping center is forging ahead since the ground breaking in December, and Palm Beach County is widening local roads to ease travel to the 258,000-square-foot retail facility.

According to the Palm Beach Post, developer Kite Realty has signed four new tenants since announcing the Publix Supermarket-anchored property was 67 percent leased in November. The marketplace is expected to open later this year with a bowling alley and movie theater to boot. [more]

The 275,000-square-foot Delray Marketplace is set to break ground, with a scheduled opening in November 2012. The project, which is the brainchild of developer Kite Realty Group, is 66 percent leased, with anchor tenants including Publix and Frank Theatres. “Because of where we are located, there is such a dearth of good-quality retail and restaurants and entertainment options, [and] things have been going pretty well,” said Jason Samreny, vice president of leasing for Kite. [SFBJ] [more]