Fremont Anthropologie Sees Busy Opening Weekend

About nine months after obtaining a $19 million loan to add to an already busy retail area, a developer has completed the first in a four-parcel piece—Anthropologie.

The expansive grapefruit-colored, geometric storefront at 1548 N. Fremont St., on the corner of North Avenue and Fremont Street, officially opened its doors Friday. Employees there said the store saw a busy weekend of eager shoppers following a sneak-peek "soft opening" on Thursday in advance of Friday's grand opening.

Anthropologie is a women's clothing, accessories, gifts and home decor store founded in Pennsylvania. There are three other branches within Chicago, with several others in the surrounding suburbs.

"In this, our 20th anniversary year, we are committed to offering our customers signature products and unmatched service, both in our 175 stores ... and (online)," the company's website says.

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Deerfield-based CRM Properties Group Ltd. is behind the local venture. The company is the one behind the Whole Foods on North Kingsbury Street.

CRM acquired a $19 million construction loan in March 2012 to add to the Clybourn Corridor, according to Cook County records. The area includes 2.5 acres spread over four parcels, some of which will be a Williams-Sonoma.

The 15,000-square-foot building represents a fraction of the estimated 150,000-square-foot retail space of the sites. Of those, the Anthropologie and Williams-Sonoma parcel is the only one that's so far been developed.

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