The Summit
- This article is about the shopping center, for the toy company, see Summit Products.
The Summit is a pioneering retail shopping center developed in several phases by Bayer Properties beginning in 1997 at the intersection of Highway 280 and I-459 in the city limits of Birmingham. The International Council of Shopping Centers recognizes The Summit of Birmingham as the first contemporary "lifestyle center", a retail development term that signifies upscale open air shopping centers with landscaping and architecture intended to evoke a village-like atmosphere while keeping the convenience of close by parking at every shopfront.
The Summit's first phase was a half-million square-foot collection of 30 retailers and restaurants including Parisian and Barnes & Noble that opened in 1997. The 106,000 square-foot second phase added 20 retailers, including the Gap, in 1999. The 165,000 square-foot third phase was opened in 2001 with Saks Fifth Avenue. The 67,845 square-foot fourth phase opened in 2005 and includes some 20 to 30 additional retailers and restaurants and brings the center 846,403 square feet. A fifth expansion was completed in 2009, adding office space to the retail mix.
With the opening of the Summit, Bayer established the "Summit Children's Fund" as a charitable organization to support child welfare non-profits.
Bayer Properties has trademarked the brand "The Summit" and has developed similar properties under that name in Louisville, Kentucky; Reno, Nevada; and Bethlehem Township, Pennsylvania.
Stores
Anchors
- Barnes & Noble, 25,390 sq. ft, opened 1997
- Bruno's Supermarket
- Parisian, 114,886 sq. ft, opened 1997, converted to Belk's 2007
- Saks Fifth Avenue, 99,500 sq. ft, opened 2001
- Summit 16 cinema, opened 1997
Restaurants
- California Pizza Kitchen, chain, opened 2001
- Cheesecake Factory, chain, opened 2004
- Fleming's Prime Steakhouse and Winebar, opened 2002
- The Grape, chain, opened 2005
- Johnny Rocket's, chain, opened 1998
- On the Border, chain, opened 1998, closed 2007
- Panera Bread Company, chain, opened 2003
- P. F. Chang's China Bistro, chain, opened 1998
- Romano's Macaroni Grill (chain), opened 1998
- Sweet Bones Alabama, opened 2008
- Tavern on the Summit, opened 1998
- Village Tavern, opened 2002
- Vincent's Market, supermarket deli, opened 1995
- Zöe's Kitchen, local chain, opened 2002
Specialty shops
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Office tenants
- Bayer Properties
- Halcyon Days Salon & Spa (formerly Greenhouse Day Spa)
- Sellers, Richardson, Holman & West, accountants
References
- Kent, Dawn. (March 3, 2009.) "Two metro projects signing up `best-in-class' tenants." Birmingham News.
- Cooper, Lauren B. (April 16, 2009.) "The Summit gets three new tenants." Birmingham Business Journal.
External links
- The Summit website
- The Summit info package (PDF) at bayerproperties.com
- The Summit Story video at bayerproperties.com