Shopping Centers Today is the news magazine of the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC)
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and exterior observation points that visitors can use to enjoy the mall's art instal- lations, including pieces by Wendell Castle and Mark Handforth. The mall's leasing team recently added French luxury label Givenchy and Italian fashion brand Gucci to a collection of upscale tenants that already includes Louis Vuitton, Cartier, Tiffany & Co., Fendi, Burberry, Bally and Emilio Pucci. Given- chy is scheduled to open this summer and Gucci this fall. Both boutiques will be located in the mall's Nord- strom court. "The additions of Givenchy and Gucci will enhance the shopping experi- ence for our local and inter- national visitors and further establish Aventura Mall as one of the country's top fash- ion destinations," Soffer said. Aventura Mall opened in 1983. A 1997 expansion dou- bled the shopping center's footprint, and a 2007 addi- tion included Nordstrom and a three-level wing of up- scale stores. At 2.7 million square feet, Aventura Mall is one of the largest shopping centers in the country and welcomes nearly 30 million visitors each year. S C T 66 S C T / A U G U S T 2 0 1 6 Gainesville, Fla.'s Butler Plaza breaks for biscuits Jacksonville, Fla.–based Maple Street Biscuit Company recently opened its eighth restaurant, a 3,500-square-foot unit at Gainesville, Fla.'s Butler Plaza. Voted by magazine one of the "Best New Biscuit Spots in the U.S.," the chain specializes in Southern sandwiches. The restaurant joins the center's Restaurant Row at Butler, a collection of approximately 25 eateries. "Their reputation for quality and dedication to building a community by providing warm, wel- coming customer service is the perfect match for our center, which has been the retail core of Gainesville for generations," said Deborah Butler, president of center developer Butler Enterprises. Butler Plaza is undergoing a massive expan- sion, with the 750,000-square-foot destination- oriented Butler North phase now 90 percent leased and opening this year, and with the adja- cent Butler Town Center, set to break ground this year for a 2018 opening. The 267-acre Butler development will ultimately expand to 2 million square feet, says Butler, making it the largest shopping center in North Central Florida. T r o y G i B s o n , a P a r T n e r o F T h e G a i n e s v i l l e M a P l e s T r e e T B i s c u i T c o M P a n y S I T E S & C I T I E S