LITTLETON, CO-Construction is about to kick off on a new Dillard's store at the Southwest Plaza regional shopping center. The 180,000-sf store will be in the space previously occupied by Montgomery Ward, which closed in early 2001 after the retail chain filed for bankruptcy. Dillard's will transform the old Ward building site into a flagship store. The expansion will almost double the size of the Ward building, which is located on the west side of the shopping center at South Wadsworth Boulevard and West Bowles Avenue.

The larger format store will allow for Dillard's to expand its merchandise offerings, reflecting the company's heightened focus on presenting more upscale and more fashion-forward selections of both national and exclusive brands. Nicole Cosme, marketing manager for Southwest Plaza, says the new store will better serve the "ever changing needs" of shoppers.

The current Dillard's store at Southwest Plaza covers approximately 130,000 sf. The store will close with the opening of the new Dillard's location in late summer to early fall of 2006. Mall managers are currently in discussions with selected retailers to fill what will be the former Dillard's location. Cosme says it is too early to announce specific tenants.

Southwest Plaza is owned and managed by General Growth Properties Inc., the second largest US-based publicly traded REIT. General Growth currently has ownership interest and management responsibility for a portfolio of 209 regional shopping malls in 44 states, as well as ownership in planned community developments and commercial office buildings.