Press Release From Branson LandingBRANSON, MISSOURI, July 24, 2008 – Branson-based HCW Development Company, LLC, has awarded General Growth Properties, Inc. (NYSE: GGP) the contract for management, marketing and leasing services for Branson Landing, one of the premier shopping and entertainment destinations in Missouri and the Midwest. General Growth Properties, a real estate investment trust (REIT), is nationally known for its ownership and management of more than 200 shopping malls in 45 states and development of master planned communities and mixed-use properties. The contract will take effect on Friday, August 1.
“We put our heart and soul into the development of Branson Landing, and we knew the management company we selected would have to be the best,” says Richard E. Huffman, CEO of HCW Development Company. “General Growth is an excellent fit. The company has a reputation for high standards and delivering results and that’s exactly what we wanted. Area shoppers – our friends and neighbors -- as well as the millions of visitors to Branson depend on us to provide a quality shopping and dining destination and we look forward to working with GGP to further enhance Branson Landing."
“Branson Landing is a unique shopping experience, attracting more than 5 million visitors per year. HCW has done an excellent job in developing the property and situating it on the edge of Lake Taneycomo to create a compelling retail and entertainment destination with a delightful ambience,” says Kate Sheehy, senior vice president of partner relations and client services for General Growth Properties. “The $7.5 million fountain, located In Branson Landing's Town Square is a focal point and an attraction in itself offering visitors a dazzling water experience that synchronizes light, sound, music and fire. There are very few centers that compare to Branson Landing, and GGP is pleased to have been chosen to manage the property and continue the high standards set by HCW.”
Branson Landing is a mixed-use development with more than 420,000 square feet of retail, luxury condominiums, the Hilton Promenade, the Hilton Branson and the city's convention center. The center offers shoppers a mix of national retailers, including many that are a first for Branson or southwest Missouri. The center is anchored by Bass Pro Shops and Belk Department Store and boasts a line-up of sought-after specialty retailers such as Ann Taylor Loft, Brighton Collectibles, Charlotte Russe, Chico’s, Coldwater Creek, Hollister, White House/Black Market and more. For the younger set, Branson Landing has a Build-A-Bear Workshop, Children's Place, Justice- Just for Girls and Strasburg Children just to name a few. Additionally, RIDEMAKERZ, the ultimate car-customizing garage and the hottest new retailer in the country, chose Branson Landing for one of its first stores in the country.
Since its opening in 2006, Branson Landing has also attracted a variety of restaurants, from quick-stop favorites to a host of restaurants that offer more leisurely dining, including Bar Louie, Cantina Laredo, Joe's Crab Shack, Texas Land & Cattle Steakhouse, Romano’s Macaroni Grill and Bass Pro Shop's White River Fish Company. Completing Branson Landing’s destination experience, the shopping center is home to waterfront entertainment venues including Gage’s Branson Landing Marina & Shoppes, the Branson Landing Cruises and Ride the Ducks.
HCW Development Company LLC. is a development company and a construction management company committed to preserving and accentuating the natural beauty and unique characteristics of the communities in which it works. Headquartered in the dynamic tourism town of Branson, Missouri, the HCW developments reach out to bring top-quality commercial and residential projects into several states as well as Missouri, completing over 1 billion in real estate development. For more information, please visit the company website at www.hcwdevelopment.com.
General Growth Properties, Inc. is one of the largest U.S.-based publicly traded real estate investment trusts (REIT), based upon market capitalization. Best-known for its ownership and management of more than 200 shopping malls in 45 states, General Growth is also a leading developer of master-planned communities and mixed-use properties. It has ownership interest in master-planned communities in Texas, Maryland and Nevada and in smaller mixed-use projects under development in additional locations. Its shopping center portfolio totals approximately 200 million square feet of retail space accommodating more than 24,000 retail stores nationwide. General Growth’s international portfolio includes ownership and management interest in shopping centers in Brazil and Turkey. General Growth Properties, Inc. is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol GGP. For more information, please visit the company web site at http://www.ggp.com.
