Project director Jeffrey Axtell of Vestar says that although thecompany typically opens its centers fully leased, in the case ofthe District at Tustin Legacy the developer also has nearly all ofthe tenants at the Tustin development, 85%, open for business atgrand opening. Axtell notes that the center is the newest ofVestar's "district" concept, which consist of an inner lifestylesection with shops, restaurants and entertainment, along with asurrounding array of large-format stores offering everything fromelectronics to home goods.

Among the largest tenants at the center are the AMC Tustin 14cinema, Strike Rock & Roll Bowling, Whole Foods Market, BordersBooks & Music, the Winery Restaurant & Wine Bar, BluewaterGrill, Best Buy, Costco, Lowe's, Target and Tilly's. The lifestyleportion features a performance stage and two large video walls thatare strategically placed to encourage pedestrian traffic betweenAMC Tustin 14 and the retailers at the opposite end of thecenter.

In addition to the existing communities surrounding the newvenue, Axtell points out that the District at Tustin Legacy standsto benefit from approximately 4,600 new residences and more thansix million sf of commercial space will soon be built on the landadjacent to the new regional retail center as part of the overallTustin Legacy development. The entity developing the District atTustin Legacy is Vestar/Kimco Tustin LP, with publicly held Kimcoserving as a financial partner in the project.