Bravern loses 2 retailers

Italian fashion house Bottega Veneta and local chocolatier Dilettante no longer plan to open new stores at the Bravern mixed-use development in Bellevue.

Bottega Veneta, which is part of the Gucci Group, announced last August that it would take 1,700 square feet of space facing 110th Avenue Northeast, but now it's content to sell its pricey merchandise at the Bravern's soon-to-open Neiman Marcus store.

Bottega Veneta spokeswoman Lisa Pomerantz said the company will open a "shop-in-shop" at the Bravern's Neiman Marcus, meaning it will have some sort of branded display.

"We have evaluated the business and decided that we would prefer to test the market, which is new to us, with our long-term partner, Neiman Marcus," she said.

Dilettante, which is part of Seattle Gourmet Foods, had planned to move its downtown Bellevue cafe from an office building on 108th Avenue Northeast to 2,400 square feet at the Bravern. Instead, Dilettante closed its Bellevue cafe last fall and will make do without an Eastside location.

Seattle Gourmet Foods President Dave Taylor said Dilettante backed out of the Bravern because its 2,400-square-foot spot there was "too large and awkward" for a cafe. He said he continues to look on the Eastside and is working with the Bravern's developer, Schnitzer West, for a third location in downtown Seattle.

Tom Woodworth, senior investment director at Schnitzer, noted that neither tenant had gone as far as to sign a lease at the Bravern. He predicts 82 percent of the Bravern's 305,000 square feet of shopping and dining space will be taken when it opens in September.

"Right now, it's at 79 percent," Woodworth said. "In this market, I think that's a stellar performance."

Despite the recession, the Bravern has signed five new retail tenants this year — proof, according to Woodworth, that the Eastside remains attractive to well-capitalized companies. The newest additions include: Brooks Brothers Country Club, Salvatore Ferragamo and women's hosiery company Wolford.

Schnitzer began construction on the Bravern in summer 2006, promoting its proximity to well-heeled neighborhoods and corporate headquarters.

About 850 Microsoft workers have moved into one of two office towers since January. An estimated 1,500 additional Microsoft workers will take over the second tower in the next three months. And another pair of towers with 455 condo units is scheduled for completion in early 2010.

The retail lineup also includes Jimmy Choo, Louis Vuitton, Hermès, Tory Burch, John Howie Steak, Wild Ginger and Sur La Table.

"No one wants to walk into the teeth of what is probably the most severe recession since the Great Depression," Woodworth said, referring to the Bravern's timing. "The flip side is that we're doing it in probably one of the healthiest markets in the country."

Amy Martinez: 206-464-2923