Furniture Tenants Sign at Birtcher Project

COSTA MESA, CA-New tenants have signed leases that boost commitments to 75% of the space at Birtcher Development & Investments' $90-million South Coast Home Furnishings Centre, which is slated for a 2007 opening. The new tenants include C.S. Wo, a Hawaiian furniture company, plus NW Rugs, Office Furniture Gallery, LA Carpet, Faucets Galore and children's furniture retailer Flexa.

The new Birtcher development is under construction at 3333 Hyland Rd., along the I-405 Freeway at South Coast Drive. C.S. Wo, which specializes in major name brands along with antiques and accessories from around the world, will occupy an 18,000-sf building.

The Hawaiian furniture retailer, which was established in Honolulu in 1909, has 17 stores throughout the Hawaiian Islands. The South Coast Home Furnishings Centre will mark its first store location within the Continental US.

C.S. Wo joins a collection of national, regional and local tenants that have committed to space at the Birtcher project, including Wickes, Banner Mattress, La-Z-Boy, Legends, Creative Leather, Salmo's Furniture, Munro's Furniture, Easylife Furniture and Interior Surroundings. The development is "replacing the traditional furniture row with a one-stop, purpose-built home furnishings center," comments Brandon Birtcher, president and sole owner of Birtcher Development & Investments.

Birtcher explains that the concept behind the South Coast Home Furnishings Centre is to consolidate regional home furnishings showrooms in a high-traffic, high-visibility area, along with appealing amenities, for shoppers. The concept also benefits the retailers by creating cross-traffic among them, he adds.

The center's leasing agents are Jim Snyder, Ken Gould, Andy Walburger and Mike Abel of Lee & Associates. Other companies involved in development include Lee & Sakahara Architects, Fullmer Construction, and Hunsaker & Associates as the civil engineer.