A year since Eddy Street Commons opened, nearly all of its storefronts and living options are filled.
Five new businesses opened at Eddy Street Commons during the summer and three more are scheduled to open this fall, said Lori Wick, director of marketing for Kite Realty.
"We had a lot of activity after May," she said.
Chris Jackowiak, property manager for The Foundry Lofts and Apartments, said the apartments are currently at 78 percent occupancy.
"We just moved in approximately 83 residents within the last three weeks," she said. "So it's been very busy here."
Located directly south of campus at the corner of Angela Boulevard and Eddy Street, Eddy Street Commons offers shopping, dining and living spaces. It opened in the fall of 2009.
Over the summer, AT&T, Kildare's Irish Pub, The Mark Dine & Tap, Nicholas J Salon & Spa and Fairfield Inn and Suites began operation. Kilwin's Chocolates & Ice Cream, Jamba Juice and Camellia Cosmetics are scheduled to open in the coming months, Wick said.
Wick said Kildare's, which opened on Aug. 5, has been very successful. It is a chain restaurant and pub, with other locations in Pennsylvania, Delaware and North Carolina.
Kilwin's Chocolates and Ice Cream, which should be open by late October or early November, will be next door to Kildare's. According to Kilwin's website, it is a franchise with locations in 14 other states and offers a variety of desserts.
Another new dining option at Eddy Street Commons is the The Mark Dine & Tap, which opened in mid-August, Wick said.
"[It is] an American diner with a vibrant, big city appeal," Wick said. "The décor is just fabulous. It's very high-end."
Nicholas J Salon & Spa, which opened on May 20, features Aveda products and offers haircuts, hair coloring and styling, nail treatment, wax treatment, make-up, skincare, massages and aromatherapy. It will have an interior door connecting it to Camellia Cosmetics, which should open by early September. Camellia, which also has a location in Granger, will feature popular cosmetic brands.
The restaurants that opened in 2009, such as Chipotle, Hot Box Pizza and Five Guys Burgers and Fries, have already experienced popularity among Notre Dame students, Wick said.
Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott, which Wick said is a limited service hotel with 119 guestrooms and suites, opened in June.
"It's beautiful inside," she said. "Very convenient to campus."
Wick said more store openings would be announced in the coming months. Kite Realty Group is currently negotiating with retailers, but is not yet able to announce the names.
"We still have one building that we're working on right now, and it's the last building that is south of campus," Wick said. "We hope to be able to announce something mid-October."
While many of the businesses at Eddy Street Commons appeal to students, it has a broader appeal to professors and professionals in the area, Jackowiak said.
The lofts and apartments have residents of all ages. They are only available for occupants age 21 and over, and students can occupy a maximum of 20 percent of the apartments in each of the three buildings.
"I would say the average age out of the entire property would be … maybe anywhere from 32 to 35," she said.
Jackowiak said the feedback from residents is very positive, and hoped to reach 85 to 90 percent occupancy by early October.
In addition to apartment living, the Eddy Street Commons area has townhouses along Angela Boulevard.
Ashley Bedell, project manager at Kite Realty Group, said these three-story row homes are selling well and new units are being built as they are sold. The new owners of these units include alumni, Notre Dame faculty and others.
The homes are only up for sale, not for lease; therefore students are not living in them, she said.
As for the future of Eddy Street Commons, Kite Realty Group will look to assess the market and the desires of customers and the University, Bedell said.
"There is definite potential for phase two to extend south down Eddy Street, but that timing is completely unknown and those properties are not under control yet."
