Chicago — General Growth Properties plans to add Von Maur department store as an anchor to Perimeter Mall, a premier Atlanta mall with sales of more than $550 per square foot. The new upscale department store is projected to open in fall 2012. Von Maur will replace the soon-to-be-vacant Bloomingdale's location. Von Maur joins a retailer lineup that also includes Apple, Nordstrom, Michael Kors, Sur La Table and Forever 21. Perimeter Mall is a 1.6 million-square-foot shopping center north of downtown Atlanta.

"Our shoppers expect only the best in retail, dining and, above all, unparalleled customer service," says Richard Pesin, executive vice president of anchors and development for General Growth Properties, Inc.

"We are excited about our expansion to Perimeter Mall. General Growth's commitment to quality shopping centers fits well with our plans for steady growth. We are a destination in the markets we serve by providing customers with a high level of service and a unique assortment of merchandise," says Jim von Maur, president of Von Maur.

A family-owned department store based in Davenport, Iowa, Von Maur has 27 locations in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio and Georgia. In November, Von Maur opened its first southeastern department store at GGP's North Point Mall in Alpharetta, Ga. Von Maur has also announced expansion plans in Alabama and New York.

General Growth Properties is the second largest shopping center owner in the United States. GGP has ownership and management interest in 167 regional and super-regional shopping malls in 42 states. The company portfolio totals 169 million square feet of space.