Entertainment Evolves at Retail Destinations

The Veranda was the first project to invite the community to participate in the development process.

CONCORD, CA—CenterCal Properties’ The Veranda is a 375,000-square-foot lifestyle destination that will include the Bay Area’s first Whole Foods 365, more than 50 other tenants and event programming in a public space. The development is part of efforts by the city of Concord to revitalize the Diamond District and increase commercial activity in the submarket.

The centerpiece of the project is a musically choreographed $1.7 million water feature. Outside the Lines, a design-build construction company that specializes in creating water features, rockwork and themed environments, was the developer of the water feature. J. Wickham Zimmerman, chief executive officer of Outside the Lines, recently discussed destination retail’s value, the unique aspects of the Concord project and the most successful entertainment components.