Dean & DeLuca Cancels Plano Plans, While More Coming to Legacy West

Dean & DeLuca isn't coming to Texas after all. The famed foodie store with roots in Manhattan is pulling back expansion plans that included a store in Plano's Legacy West urban village.Dean & DeLuca president Laura Lendrum said the decision has to do with a shift in the retailer's business goals and not with Legacy West. Developer Fehmi Karahan has created "a top tier retail and residential environment," she said in a prepared statement."As we look to 2018 and beyond, we are re-evaluating our retail portfolio along with our overall growth objectives," Lendrum said, who is a graduate of Southern Methodist University and has also worked at Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent. "We have decided we will not be expanding our retail footprint at this time, but instead renewing our focus on our existing retail operations as well as our digital operations." The retailer has 12 stores in the U.S. and 10 overseas.It seems that Lendrum, who has 20 years experience at luxury retailing and came to Dean & DeLuca in May from Ralph Lauren, is picking up some pieces. Dean & DeLuca has notified Colonial Country Club and the PGA Tour that it may be unable to meet its financial obligations for tournament sponsorship in 2018. The Fort Worth Star -Telegram first reported that news last week saying the announcement comes after only two years of Dean & DeLuca's six-year event sponsorship commitment. "While we are disappointed not to have Dean & DeLuca as part of our project, we understand their internal corporate issues and need to allocate apparently scarce financial resources to their digital platform," Karahan said.Pace Development Corp., a Bangkok, Thailand-based in the high-end real estate and gourmet food and beverage business, purchased Dean & DeLuca at the end of 2015.The original Dean & DeLuca opened in 1977 in New York's SoHo neighborhood. Giorgio DeLuca claimed the store was the first to bring radicchio, balsamic vinegar, sun-dried tomatoes and dried mushrooms to the U.S. The brand expanded outside of the U.S. in 2003 with a store in Japan and now has stores in Thailand, Singapore, Philippines, South Korea, Kuwait and United Arab Emirates.Here's an update on other Legacy West openings: Barnes & Noble is opening a new smaller format store on Nov. 7 that combines a bookstore with a full-service restaurant serving beer and wine. Last week, Levi's and MAC Cosmetics opened. Legacy Hall also opens in early November and will have a grand opening event Nov. 10-11. Legacy West recently signed additional leases with Victoria's Secret and its PINK brand, Credo, Taper + Tap and Rustic Cuff.Twitter: @MariaHalkias  Continue reading...