Garden City grows retailer mix as transformation continues

THE CONTAINER STORE, which sells storage and space-saving solutions, will join several other national retailers in opening its first Rhode Island location at Garden City Center next year. Above, an artist's rendering of the 26,500-square-foot store planned for opening in spring 2014. / COURTESY THE WILDER COMPANIES
THE CONTAINER STORE, which sells storage and space-saving solutions, will join several other national retailers in opening its first Rhode Island location at Garden City Center next year. Above, an artist's rendering of the 26,500-square-foot store planned for opening in spring 2014. / COURTESY THE WILDER COMPANIES

CRANSTON – As the redevelopment of Garden City Center continues, several national retailers have opted to open locations there, the center’s managing company announced Wednesday.

Last week, adjustable mattress retailer Sleep Number opened a 2,600-square-foot store at Garden City Center next to Soma Intimates, its first location in Rhode Island. The company is the sole manufacturer of the Sleep Number bed, which allows sleepers to adjust the firmness and support of each side of the bed at the touch of a button.

The Container Store is also slated to join Garden City Center’s list of retailers, with plans to open a 26,500-square-foot location in the former Linens N Things building in spring 2014. The Container Store sells storage and space-saving solutions for closets, kitchens, offices and more.

Linens N Things was one of several Garden City Center stores that went bankrupt following the 2008 recession, including the Providence Watch Hospital, Circuit City and Borders.

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“We are thrilled to have The Container Store join the center to offer a shopping option that can’t be found anywhere else in Rhode Island,” said Deb DiMeo, vice president of leasing for The Wilder Companies, the management company of Garden City Center.

This fall, Corner Bakery Café and LA Fitness also will open stores in Garden City Center, joining Pottery Barn, Anthropologie and Lululemon as retailers that have their only Rhode Island stores at Garden City Center, in addition to Sleep Number and The Container Store.

The focus on smaller specialty stores at Garden City Center is part of a redevelopment project that began in 2012 with the construction of a new 20,000-square-foot building at the south end of the complex, and the reconfiguration of the center’s retail space into mid-size and smaller stores.

The second phase of the project, now underway, includes the creation of several new restaurants and new traffic and pedestrian links to the Whole Foods Market section of the center.

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