Simon Property Group this month will start its renovation of the retail portion of Copley Place, the high-end retail center in Boston's Back Bay.
The renovations will include physical upgrades such as new flooring and ceiling treatments, upgraded escalators and glass handrails and an upscale food court component.
"Simon continues to reinvest in our properties, and the renovation of Copley Place is another strong example of that," said David Contis, president of Simon Malls, in a prepared statement. "We are confident that this transformation will enhance the shopping experience for our guests and further strengthen our position as the high-end shopping destination in the heart of Boston."
Simon (NYSE: SPG) will also add a number of high-end retailers to Copley Place, including CH Carolina Herrera, Moncler and Versace. Existing locations for Tory Burch and L.K. Bennet will be expanded, while the existing Banana Republic and Eileen Fisher stores will be relocated within the center.
The retail renovations are expected to wrap up next summer.
The interior retail work is a part of Simon's $500 million, 1.96 million-square-foot expansion of Copley Place, which includes a new 52-story, 542-unit residential tower that's currently under construction. The Boston Redevelopment Authority in May approved an updated affordable housing agreement for the project, as well as a redrawn boundary agreement that now prevents facades from encroaching outside the project site [emphasis added].
