The Summit Square Plaza, located directly across from the new Target store on Bald Hill Road in Warwick, is undergoing major renovations designed to transform it into one of the city’s premier retail locations. In addition to expanding some stores and re-locating others, the changes include adding major retailers to the plaza and a second entrance to the mall from Route 2. “Our goal is to blend nationally known retailers with small specialty stores not found in nearby plazas, providing consumers with a unique shopping experience,” says Emery Johnson, executive vice president, TARA Group, which owns and manages the property. “We’re excited about the changes we’re making to Summit Square and about the future of the plaza.”
Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, the TARA Group specializes in buying and transforming shopping centers into thriving retail locations. The company also owns and manages shopping centers in Oklahoma and Texas.
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“The TARA Group is an aggressive, marketing-oriented organization that brings a high level of professionalism to its projects,” says Lincoln Chafee, Warwick’s mayor. “The changes it is making will have an impact on Summit Square and will generate interest among residents and shoppers. They will also make the plaza one of the most dynamic and attractive shopping destinations on Route 2,” he adds.
The key change was moving the Staples and Petsmart stores to a lot directly adjacent to the plaza and creating a road through the previous Petsmart store. This road provides access to Pier One Imports, Chili’s Grill and Bar, and the rest of the stores in the original plaza. There will also be an additional entrance from Bald Hill Road into the plaza. Opened in March, the new Staples measures about 24,000 square feet, an increase of nearly 9,000 square feet over its previous location. The new Petsmart will have over 22,000 square feet, an increase of approximately 3,000 square feet.
In addition, the TARA Group is bringing in a Kitchens, Etc. store, a regionally known retailer that offers quality products at cost-effective prices. This new store will have 20,000 square feet.
“These stores, along with the Chili’s Grill & Bar, Pier One, and Miltons, which have thrived at Summit Square, will serve as anchor stores for the plaza, drawing customers to the location and creating traffic for the other stores,” explains Johnson. “We are also working on adding businesses that either complement existing stores or are unique to the area.”
Existing tenants that have been relocated to new spaces are Briar Bush Junction, Electrolux, Miltons, and the U.S. Government Recruiting Office. New tenants added to the plaza include H&R Block and Household Finance.
One unique business already added to the location is Brewer’s Heaven, Rhode Island’s first “You Brew” facility. Opened last September, Brewer’s Heaven provides everything a person needs to brew his or her own beer including brew kettles, lagering rooms, and label making equipment. Customers can use either
their own beer recipes or one of the nearly 70 provided by Brewer’s Heaven.
“Renovations to the shopping plaza are going smoothly,” says Johnson. “We will complete them by the end of the summer while continuing to focus on bringing in additional tenants.”
Hallman & Hallman Contractors, Inc., a Texas-based contracting firm that was founded in 1954 by R. Sandy Hallman, is handling the construction on Summit Plaza. Steven Hallman, the founder’s son, is overseeing the project.
