Wal-Mart, Lowe's, Linens 'n Things and Bed, Bath and Beyondalready have established positions in the path of the State Road417 extension in the Sanford, FL area, while PetCo, Marshalls, PierOne and Off-Broadway Shoes have opened outlets in Millennia II nearConroy Road in south Orlando.

"Further south, several power centers under development in thesouth Orlando-Kissimmee area are competing for new tenants andretailers are making the most of it," says John M. Crossman, a TCCsenior vice president and director of investments sales for theOrlando area. "Major new retailers at the (1.3-million-sf) Mall ofMillennia such as Neiman Marcus, Chanel, Bloomingdale's, Tiffany& Co., Macy's and Crate & Barrel have firmly positionedOrlando as a fashion retail market."

And it's not only the upscale specialty retailers who want tolocate here, Crossman says. "Retailers like American Signature,Ultra Cosmetics, Cargo Kids and Guitar Center all opened recentlyand Kohl's, Sofa Express and Arhaus all have plans to enter themarket soon," he adds.