Hey Mel,
Seems the news moves kinda slow in AZ, they must still use the pony express:
Shoppertainment' mall opens Tempe's new Arizona Mills outlets offer more than just shopping.
by LORRIE COHEN Citizen Business WriteDec 1 1997 7:00PM CST, The Tucson Citizen
Gorillas, parrots, monkeys, tropical thunderstorms - some malls will try anything to get you to spend your money and shop till you drop and this time it's Arizona Mills in Tempe.
Arizona Mills, billed as the largest value outlet mall in the state - though not the largest retail mall - opens tomorrow and is trying to entice consumers with every bell and whistle around.
Unlike a regular retail mall, a "value outlet" mall has a combination of manufacturer's stores and retail outlets, said Kevin Kudlo, Arizona Mill's development director. Most, but not all, offer discount prices.
In addition to the jungle animals and noises (all animated at the Rainforest Cafe), there's GameWorks, an interactive arcade, Virgin Megastore, which sells music and is lined with hundreds of listening booths, and Off Rodeo Dr., which offers Beverly Hills fashions at a discount. Also included is a 24-screen movie theater and Alcatraz Brewing Co., a brew pub with touches reminiscent of that famous prison.
Opening in February in the mall at Interstate 10 and Baseline Road is an IMAX 3D theater. Next month, an American Wilderness Experience, a huge restaurant that features live animals and simulates different natural regions of the United States, will open.
"It's shoppertainment," says Kudlo, describing the mix of stores and restaurants.
Mills Corp. malls have been hugely popular in other areas of the country. Ones in Washington, D. C., Philidelphia and Chicago each average more than 18 million visitors annually. Sawgrass Mills in Florida is the state's No. 2 attraction - behind Disney World.
Developers expect between 14 million and 16 million shoppers will visit the mall in its first year.
Of the 175 stores, some familiar names include Ross stores, Nine West, Mikasa and Footlocker.
Unlike most malls, Arizona Mills is shaped like a doughnut.
"This way there's easy access to all stores and inside you don't have to repeat yourself when shopping by walking by stores you've already been by," Kudlo said.
Although the mall opens tomorrow, it didn't stop some from peering inside from two stores already opened, Off 5th Saks and Ross.
"This place is so nice," said Marilyn Scofield, 60, of Phoenix, peering through the glass. "I was hoping it would all be opened. I'll come back Thursday (tomorrow), but I just hope parking isn't too bad."
So does Kudlo.
"We have more than 6,200 parking spaces on site, another 1,000 being developed and 6,000 spaces in the immediate vicinity, over 9,000 in all," said Kudlo. "Now as far as circulation, there has been a tremendous amount of road improvements and widening of the roads, but people will have to be patient."
Other businesses cashing in on the opening of Arizona Mills includes the Inn Suites Hotel at 1651 W. Baseline Road, across from the mall.
General manager Calvin Quick says he's already taking reservations from people, including Tucsonans.
"We are right across the street," Quick said. "And December is usually a slower month, maybe now it won't be."
While Scofield and other Phoenicians are excited about their new addition, the question still remains whether the mall will propel Tucsonans to head 100 miles Northwest for their shopping needs.
"Some of my friends are excited to try out the mall, but not me," said Cecilia Calderon, a 27year-old Tucson nurse. "I won't make a trip out of it, when I go to Phoenix I'm not thinking 'hey, lets go to a mall and shop.' I can get what I want here."
In case you do go, holiday hours through January are: 10 a.m. to 11 p.m Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sundays. After than it's 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sundays.
ARIZONA MILLS
Arizona Mills mall in Tempe will be about the size of Tucson Mall: about 1.2 million square feet.
Phoenix's Metrocenter, 9617 N. Metro Parkway West, still holds the title as largest mall with 1.4 million square feet of space.
However, the Scottsdale Fashion Square Mall, 7000 E. Camelback Road, is adding more than 600,000 square feet of space, making it the largest mall in the state at about 1.8 million square feet. The addition will be completed in September 1998.
WHAT'S THERE
Arizona Mills shops and restaurants include:
Virgin Megastore
Off Rodeo Drive
Group USA
GameWorks
Rainforest Cafe
Hi-Health World
Harkins 24-screen theater
IMAX Theater
American Wilderness Experience
Mikasa Factory Store
Off 5th
Nine West Outlet
Oshman's SuperSport
Burlington Coat Factory
Bugle Boy
Anchor Blue
Linens N' Things
Gap
Footlocker
Alcatraz Brewing Co.
Mall concerns other merchants
LORRIE COHEN Citizen Business Writer
While Arizona Mills expects this holiday season to be jolly, some merchants at the outlet malls along Interstate 10 in Casa Grande are worried they may be singing the "Woe Woe Woes," instead of the "Ho Ho Hos."
They are worried people will drive another 45 miles to the new Arizona Mills mall, giving them a pass. The mall is at Interstate 10 and Baseline Road in Tempe.
"We get a lot of business from Tucson and Nogales and, yes, we will be affected this holiday season," said Linda Ruiz, Guess store manager at the Tanger Outlet Mall. "It is a concern, but hopefully, people will check it out and then still stop here."
Other merchants agreed.
"A lot of people have come in here talking about it and will probably go and check it out because it's the new cool thing to see," said Jennifer Clack, Nine West's store manager at Tanger Outlet Mall. "But then that will be it."
It appears they may be right.
One Tanger Outlet customer Jennifer Jones, 30, said she's looking forward to cruising the new mall in Tempe.
"Shopping is awful in Tucson and even though I won't go there on a regular basis, I will when I go for business or other reasons," Jones said.
While many at the outlet stores ponder their fate, Foothills Mall Outlets & Entertainment managers think Arizona Mills will drum up business for them.
"Foothills Mall is also an outlet mall, we have a similar format - as close as you can get," said Foothills Mall manager Bill Kelley. "People will realize they don't have to travel 60 miles to an outlet mall in Casa Grande or 60 more miles to Phoenix. We have it all right here."
Foothills Mall and Arizona Mills have some of the same stores, including Off 5th - Saks Fifth Avenue Outlet, Ross and Mikasa. Both also have an interactive game room and brewery.
PHOTO CAPTIONS: Photos by MARY CHIND/Tucson Citizen
Floyd Yazzie with Commonwealth Electric installs some permanent lighting yesterday as a finishing touch on the exterior of Arizona Mills in Tempe.
Workers prepare one of Arizona Mills' many attractions for its grand opening this weekend.
With 175 stores and other attractions, Arizona Mills value outlet mall is a big presence at Baseline Road and I-10 in Tempe.
(end repost)
I'll check out the Sparky Fund ASAP. Is it an open or closed fund by the by? |
