New to the state is Devon Seafood Grill, a four-unit upscale concept owned by Houlihan's Restaurants Inc. of Leawood, KS. Devon Seafood Grill has locations in Philadelphia, Chicago and Milwaukee, with Watters Creek slated to come on line as part of the first 10 in the US. The 68-acre Watters Creek, situated at the corner of US Hwy. 75 and Bethany Drive, is a joint venture project with Cleveland-based Developers Diversified Realty Corp. and New York City-based Coventry Real Estate Advisors, with Trademark in the driver's seat.

Also claiming a spot in line are Sephora, Vera Bradley, Chico's, White House|Black Market, Swoozies, Sunglass Hut, Starbucks and Cru. "We are making virtually every deal we want," Terry Montesi, CEO of the Fort Worth-based Trademark, tells GlobeSt.com. "We are attracting cream of the crop retail. It's putting us into very elite company as far as co-tenancy goes."

Even Starbucks has carved out a niche play, according to Montesi. The coffee king will have space in the public green with outdoor seating in a grove of trees, keeping company with restaurateurs Cru, a wine bar and bistro, and NAAN plus two others that are in the letters of intent stage.

"A restaurant collection acts as a major anchor and is as important as a department store," Montesi stresses. "We keep hearing that our restaurant collection is outstanding." In all, there will be 16 restaurants in 80,000 sf.

Montesi says the signed leases account for 63% of the first phase. Add in letters of intent and preleasing is 85% or roughly 300,000 sf and 45 tenants. The first delivery was PF Chang's China Bistro, which opened doors in mid-July.

"We're clearly well along even with the rain," Montesi says. "We're still going to make the spring 2008 opening."

Watters Creek's retail component has been teamed to 170,000 sf of boutique office space and 288 multifamily dwellings. Southern Land Co. LLC of Franklin, TN has just finished up slabs for the first residential units. Like so many other projects these days, Watters Creek is earmarked to be LEED-certified.

Site work has begun for Watters Creek's second phase, which already has a signed deal for an eight-screen, 1,300-seat Studio Movie Grill. The second phase will deliver in late 2008 or early 2009. "We are putting together a real marquee-type destination retail center," Montesi says.