FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
BROWN JORDAN INTERNATIONAL RENEWS A MULTI-YEAR COMMITMENT
WITH THE MERCHANDISE MART IN CHICAGO
Latest lease renewal brings Mart casual showroom leasing capacity to 100 percent occupancy
CHICAGO (Sept. 1, 2004) — Brown Jordan International (BJI), a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of fine luxury furnishings and accessories for residential and commercial customers worldwide, has renewed its lease for the long term with The Merchandise Mart. A leaseholder and anchor tenant since 1982, BJI currently has three showrooms within Chicago’s Merchandise Mart – Brown Jordan, Casual Living and Loewenstein. With this most recent casual tenant renewal, The Merchandise Mart is now fully leased in both permanent showroom space and temporary exhibitor space for the 2004 Chicago International Casual Furniture & Accessories Market™, taking place Sept. 18–22, 2004, at The Mart.
“Brown Jordan International is a principal manufacturer in casual home furnishings and a premier resource for the industry, and we are thrilled to have BJI as a steadfast showroom at The Merchandise Mart,” said John H. Brennen III, executive vice president, Merchandise Mart Properties, Inc. “This long-term lease signifies BJI’s dedication to the casual industry within the building as well as the City of Chicago. Its commitment solidifies The Merchandise Mart’s place as the ultimate destination for retailers and design professionals to shop for the overall best and widest selection of indoor and outdoor casual furnishings.”
"We are pleased to renew our partnership with The Merchandise Mart," said Bruce R. Albertson, president and chief executive officer, BJI. "Our working relationship has proven to be a success for both parties and we look forward to a thriving future as well."
Since 1945, BJI’s award-winning design team has set the standards for quality, craftsmanship and style within the casual furniture marketplace. With more than 18 companies and brand names under the Brown Jordan International umbrella, including Brown Jordan, Tommy Bahama, Winston, Vineyard, Casual Living and Loewenstein, BJI has confirmed its rank as a foremost manufacturer of high-end residential and commercial outdoor furniture.
About The Merchandise Mart Design Center
Located in the heart of Chicago, Ill., the 4.2 million-square-foot Merchandise Mart is home to four floors constituting the world’s oldest and largest design center. As a leader in the $65 billion residential furnishings market, The Merchandise Mart Design Center offers the largest presentation of home and casual furnishings worldwide, all under one roof. Encompassing 700,000 square feet, boasting 130 showrooms and featuring more than 2,000 product lines, it is the design professional’s ultimate resource for luxury furniture, fabrics, floor coverings, wall coverings, lighting, antiques, accessories and much more. For more information about The Merchandise Mart, visit www.merchandisemart.com or call 800.677.6278 [MART].
PRESS INQUIRIES ONLY:
Elizabeth D. Cooley
Public Relations Manager
Merchandise Mart Properties, Inc.
Phone: 312.527.7555
E-mail: ecooley@mmart.com
Merchandise Mart Properties, Inc. (MMPI) is a trade show and property management firm, specializing in managing buildings devoted to wholesale showrooms and commercial office space. MMPI produces more than 300 trade shows, market events and conferences each year.
MMPI manages The Merchandise Mart, Chicago Apparel Center, and 33 North Dearborn in Chicago; Market Square, the Suites at Market Square, Hamilton Market, Plaza Suites, Furniture Plaza and the National Furniture Mart in High Point, N.C.; the Architects & Designers Building in New York; the L.A. Mart in Los Angeles; and the Washington Design Center and Washington Office Center in Washington, D.C.
Vornado Realty Trust, owner of MMPI, based in New York City, is a fully integrated equity real estate investment trust. Vornado’s common shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange and are traded under the symbol VNO.
###