An artist rendering of the retail space for the proposed 17-story curved glass tower at 888 Boylston St.
Nordstrom and Bloomingdale’s are vying to be the retail centerpiece of a proposed Prudential Center tower.
The upscale retailers are in discussions with Boston Properties for 100,000 square feet of space on four floors at 888 Boylston St., ac-cording to sources familiar with the negotiations.
“Nordstrom’s has been looking to get into downtown Boston for years, while Bloomingdale’s would like to be there as a preemptive strike to keep competitors out,” said Michael Tessler, a retail analyst and adjunct marketing professor at Bentley College.
But before anyone can sign a lease for the showcase location, Boston Properties, the Pru’s owner, needs approval for the 17-story building to be built between the Mandarin Oriental Hotel and the John B. Hynes Veterans Memorial Convention Center.
Stories Are Whacked
In August, Banker & Tradesman was the first to report that the developer agreed to lower the height by two stories following opposition by some neighbors. The Boston Redevelopment Authority asked the developer to revise the $115 million office high-rise following com-plaints about height from the Back Bay neighborhood and the Prudential Project Advisory Committee (PruPAC), a 25-member panel was founded to advise City Hall on development at the Pru.
In 2002, the BRA approved the office building at 11 stories. But the 287,000-square-foot high-rise never broke ground. Last year, Boston Properties sought approval for a 19-story tower, but retreated in the face of opposition and a call by Mayor Thomas M. Menino to each a compromise with opponents.
Michael A. Cantalupa, senior vice president of Boston Properties, declined to confirm or deny negotiations with the two retailers. Spokesmen for Nordstrom and Bloomingdale’s also declined comment.
Bloomingdale’s has a store in Chestnut Hill, while Nordstrom has shops in Burlington and Natick. The addition of either luxury retailers would add another choice for customers at the Shops at the Prudential Center. Today, the Pru has more than 75 shops and restaurants including Saks Fifth Avenue, Barnes & Noble, Lacoste and Sephora.
Nearby Copley Place features another 75 stores such as Neiman Marcus, Tiffany & Co., Barneys New York, Jimmy Choo, Gucci, Louis Vuitton and Emporio Armani.
