Timberland, Banana Republic pick Center City stores

At 1709 Walnut St. in Center City, bootmaker Timberland "has leased 5,800 sq. ft. for its Philadelphia flagship store, which it plans to have open by the fall," Steve Gartner of Metro Commercial Real Estate Inc. tells me in a note this afternoon. The site was last home to Alfa, the restaurant. Metro's Michael Gorman represented the Rittenhouse Row property owner, James Downey of Cushman & Wakefield assisted Timerland.

Banana Republic has leased all of 1911 Chestnut St. (6,600 sq. ft.) for its "Factory Store" variant. The site is a former State Store and faces renovation. Gartner says he negotiated the deal with owner Pearl Properties.

The Banana Republic store fronts the Gap Factory Outlet and the pending iPix Theater at the ex-Boyd across the street.