PORTLAND -- Fred Bruning was sitting with Portland officials to discuss a planned retail development on port-owned property near the airport.

City officials were determined to keep big-box stores like Wal-Mart out of the development, which was to be called Cascade Station. They wanted small shops that fit an "urban village" style. They sought limits on storefront size, making it difficult to include any large stores.

Bruning thought the plan was wrong for the airport location. The development needed a regional draw to make the project viable. But the cagey mall developer didn't say that outright. Instead, during that conversation more than two years ago, he mentioned that some European airports have shopping centers that include IKEA, the trendy Sweden-based home furnishings retailer. [Read Full Story]

Mai Hoang,

Yakima Herald Republic - 11/25/07

http://www.yakima-herald.com