By Tammy Leytham – Lagniappe

New things are happening at one of Mobile’s most popular shopping destinations.

Michael’s, currently located at Springdale, will relocate to Pinebrook Shopping Center in the coming year with a newly designed shopping experience and fresh layout.

Pinebrook, located at Airport Boulevard and South McGregor Avenue, is a landmark for Mobilians. Some may remember when Delchamps was the grocery store and Blockbuster Video was an endcap.

As the retail landscape evolved, longtime owner William Youngblood oversaw many changes at the property, including a significant redevelopment that brought in Whole Foods as an anchor. The endcap now is Zoe’s Kitchen and MOD Pizza.

Today, Youngblood says he is proud to watch his daughter, Brittain Youngblood, navigate the headwinds brought on by the past year’s pandemic and lead this exciting next chapter.

A graduate of UMS-Wright, Brittain spent more than a decade working in New York City, with a career that spanned tech, finance and commercial real estate globally. A few years ago, she returned to Mobile to be closer to family and help manage the family real estate business.

In 2020, when longtime tenant SteinMart filed for bankruptcy and shuttered all its 300 stores, Brittain devised plans to subdivide the box, and brought in SRS Real Estate’s Leigh Dale Younce and Martin Smith to help market that space. Youngblood Real Estate handles leasing for other spaces in the center.

Michael’s recently signed a lease for 24,308 square feet, with plans to open in the first quarter of 2022. The tenant was represented by Shelly Jordan Bell of Atlantic Retail.

The new store at Pinebrook will represent the latest prototype, embracing a new look and feel to offer what they describe as the “optimal maker shopping experience.”

In addition, she recently signed two leases with businesses new to the Mobile market. Urgent Care for Children, a physician-owned pediatric provider, leased 4,500 square feet next to high-end children’s boutique, Tiny Town.

PJ’s Coffee of New Orleans leased the 1,200-square-foot outparcel next to Regions Bank. Robert Cook of Vallas represented the tenant.

Both spaces are currently under construction and will open this fall.

For Brittain, Pinebrook holds special significance.

“This property is not a line item on a spreadsheet for me. This is where I live. Pinebrook is where I shop,” she said. “I think it’s really important to evolve while also fostering a sense of community. Community breeds loyalty and success, for both national retailers and local tenants alike.”

Source: Lagniappe Mobile