The Breton Village shopping center, a long-standing retail hub in Grand Rapids, has changed hands, with Massachusetts-based WS Development taking the reins of the 200,000-square-foot property; this marks the firm's latest investment in the Midwest, now owning more than 100 properties nationwide, as reported by WOODTV.
Purchased in 2002 and re-envisioned between 2017 and 2019, Breton Village transformed from a traditional mall into an open-air shopping destination, the result of a redevelopment initiative led by partners Scott Wierda, Brian DeVries, Dan DeVos, and Dan Bowen; their mission was to create a unique retail mix and shopping experience reflective of the community's energy and style, as noted by WOODTV.
WS Development Chairman and CEO Jeremy Sclar commented on the acquisition, emphasizing the center's growth potential and declaring it an honor to join the Grand Rapids community and to contribute to the evolution of Breton Village for future generations, a sentiment echoed in releases shared by WOODTV and WZZM 13.
Thankful for the community's embrace of the shopping center Scott Wierda, expressing gratitude and confidence in the new ownership, told WZZM 13, "It’s been an incredible 23-year journey crafting and curating Breton Village into the vibrant, welcoming shopping center destination that it is today," further stating that the property has always been considered an integral part of the neighborhood.
The acquisition by WS Development, which has a history dating back to 1990, includes a suite of tenants like Lululemon, Joseph A. Bank, and Starbucks. However, the sale price of Breton Village remains undisclosed, as neither party has released figures to public knowledge, according to detail provided by WGVU News.
