Following in the footsteps of Ikea and Facebook, URBN Inc., the retail empire that includes Urban Outfitters, Free People, and Anthropologie, has announced plans to develop its own mini town, complete with a hotel, restaurants, events space, and—duh—retail.
Though there won't be a residential component to Devon Yard, the 6.5-acre project will be branded head to toe, effectively "expanding our bricks-and-mortar retail experience to a lifestyle experience," according to Urban Outfitters' chief development officer. Translation, maybe? Poodles who do high tea and interiors with not an artisan vase, knit pouf, exposed brick, or reclaimed material too many. (Yep, even the boutique hotel is being billed as "handcrafted, authentic, and unique.") No word yet whether Devon Yard will provide an outpost for Urban Outfitters president and CEO Richard Hayne's cheese-making business.
· Urban Outfitters' Planned Village Offers the Ultimate Lifestyle Experience [PSFK via Gizmodo]
· Urban Outfitters plans Devon Yard, a lifestyle village at former Waterloo Gardens' Devon site [Main Line Times]
· Urban Outfitters Building a 'Superior' Shopping Village Near Philly [Racked National]