Biltmore Fashion Park facts for kids
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| Location | Phoenix, Arizona |
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| Coordinates | 33°30′38″N 112°1′39″W / 33.51056°N 112.02750°W |
| Address | 24th Street & Camelback Rd |
| Opening date | 1963 |
| Management | Macerich |
| Owner | Macerich |
| Architect | Welton Becket, Charles Luckman |
| No. of stores and services | 55+ |
| No. of anchor tenants | 2 |
| Total retail floor area | 611,000 sq ft (56,800 m2) |
| No. of floors | 1 |
| Parking | Outdoor & Garage |
The Biltmore Fashion Park is a cool outdoor shopping and dining spot in Phoenix, Arizona. It's known for its fancy stores and yummy restaurants. This place is in the Biltmore District, which is a well-known area. The whole area, including the shopping park, is named after the famous Arizona Biltmore Hotel nearby.
This shopping center opened a long time ago. It was first owned by a company called Westcor. Then, in 2002, it became part of The Macerich Company. It's located in a nice part of Phoenix. It's also close to popular places like Scottsdale, Arizona and Paradise Valley.
Contents
A Look Back: The History of Biltmore Fashion Park
Early Days and Famous Visitors
Biltmore Fashion Park first opened its doors in 1963. It was built on a big piece of land. Back then, this area was considered "the outskirts" of Phoenix. It quickly became the city's top spot for luxury shopping and dining.
When it first opened, it had big stores like I. Magnin and Saks Fifth Avenue. Another major store, The Broadway, joined in 1968. Famous architects like Welton Becket and Charles Luckman helped design the buildings. The original Saks Fifth Avenue even had cool stone walls and Native American designs.
During the 1960s and 1970s, a photo studio called Gittings was at the Biltmore. Many famous people visited this studio. They included John Wayne, Bob Hope, Princess Grace of Monaco, and Sophia Loren.
Growing and Changing Over Time
In the mid-1990s, a company called Taubman Centers bought the Biltmore Fashion Park. This helped it become an even fancier shopping place. During this time, some big changes happened. Saks Fifth Avenue moved into a new space. Macy's also took over The Broadway's old spot.
Many new luxury stores came to the Biltmore. These included Cartier, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, and Ralph Lauren. The Biltmore was chosen as one of only three places in the country for "The Galleries of Neiman Marcus." However, that idea didn't last long.
The Biltmore continued to be a top shopping spot in Phoenix. It was home to the only stores in the area for brands like Allen Edmonds and Apple. Tommy Bahama also opened a big store there.
Modern Makeover and New Stores
By the early 2000s, new fancy shopping centers were opening nearby. To stay competitive, Westcor bought the Biltmore Fashion Park. They decided to give it a big renovation. Some people thought the old look was a bit outdated. This makeover was a big deal because the Biltmore was already a local landmark.
The goal of the renovation was to help the Biltmore compete with Scottsdale Fashion Square. That mall was just a few miles away. The plan was to move some global brands to Scottsdale Fashion Square. This would make room at the Biltmore for more unique and "fashion forward" stores.
Today, you can find stores like Theory and Intermix here.
Delicious Dining Options
Biltmore Fashion Park is also famous for its many upscale restaurants. There are 12 different places to eat. One of the most well-known is Christopher's Fermier Brasserie. It's run by James Beard award-winner Christopher Gross. Paola's Wine Bar is another popular spot.
