Normandy Park Towne Center officially opened to the public on Sept. 14 with a celebration that included local community and business leaders.

The 54,000 square-foot retail development at First Avenue South and South 199th Street will serve Normandy Park residents as well as residents from neighboring Des Moines and Burien.

Developed by the Schuster Group, Normandy Park Towne Center is expected to fill a local need for a vibrant, in-town retail presence.

The mix of businesses includes the state-of-the-art Normandy Park fitness center, several restaurants including the Normandy Park Yacht Club bar and restaurant, Papa John's Pizza and Neoyaki Teriyaki, Normandy Park Chiropractic, Desert Sun Tanning, The Beauty Zone and The Nail Connection.

Normandy Park Athletic Club owner Jay Johansen said the location is good for business.

"We already have about 500 club members signed up, and we haven't even opened our doors," explained Johansen.

"The location couldn't be better and we're very proud to be part of a Schuster project. This property will be an incredible asset to Normandy Park."

The developer has created a property with a pedestrian-friendly streetscape, gathering places for shoppers and environmentally-friendly features, including the use of recycled construction materials, non-toxic paints and finishes, energy efficient buildings and drought tolerant landscaping.

"Normandy Park is a beautiful residential community, and we wanted to create a design that complements and protects the areas natural beauty," said Mark Schuster, developer and CEO of The Schuster Group.

"Normandy Park Towne Center offers an ideal location for visitors to spend time shopping and relaxing. We're looking forward to serving our neighbors with this much needed resource." For more information about Normandy Park Towne Center, visit www.theschustergroup.com.