Shops of Grand Avenue plan "Grand Reopening" festivities April 22-25

The Shops of Grand Avenue, Milwaukee’s major downtown shopping area, this month celebrates completion of the final stages of a major renovation with Grand Reopening activities April 22-25.

Officials of the Shops, which link by skywalk the Midwest Airlines Convention Center to the east side of the Milwaukee River, will honor the two newest retail tenants - Linens 'n Things and TJ Maxx - during the reopening program.

Linens 'n Things officially opened on March 28th with more than 30,000 square feet on the lower level in the historic Plankinton Arcade. The store offers consumers a broad assortment of brand names and designer home furnishings and is the only unit of the national organization in downtown Milwaukee

TJ Maxx is scheduled to open its first downtown Milwaukee store April 1, immediately east of Linens 'n Things on the lower level of the Plankinton Arcade. Also utilizing more than 30,000 square feet, TJ Maxx offers consumers brand name and designer fashions at affordable prices.

The two new stores, which join the Boston Store on the west end of the Shops as the major tenants of the Shops, have been designed with a unique open-air design, allowing customers to look into each of the stores from the second level. This is unlike anything else in the Milwaukee area. The opening of these stores marks the first locations for each in the downtown Milwaukee area.

The Shops of Grand Avenue also have announced a signed lease agreement with Gap, Inc., the parent of Old Navy, to open downtown's first Old Navy store later this year.

Old Navy's new 15,000 square foot prototype unit will be built on the second floor of the Plankinton Arcade and is expected to open this summer.

Events planned during the April 22-25 grand reopening include:

Thursday, April 22
10 a.m. ribbon cutting for TJ Maxx and Linens 'n Things.
Live music in the New Arcade at noon.

Friday, April 23
Noon Karaoke contest sponsored by KISS FM in the New
Arcade. Live music at 4 p.m.

Saturday, April 24
10 a.m. KISS FM Kash Kube
1 p.m. fashion show in the Plankinton Arcade near the Rotunda.
3 p.m. live music.

Sunday, April 25
Noon presentation by the Junk Market Ladies.
1:30 p.m. live music in the New Arcade.
3 p.m. presentation by the Junk Market Ladies.

Starting Monday, April 19, customers who show receipts totaling $15 in purchases to the Guest Services Center of the Shops can enter to win gift certificates for select stores and restaurants. Winners will be drawn at noon each day during the four-day celebration. All events are subject to change.