Openings scheduled for Fall 2003

With the addition of two new stores, University Mall hopes to expand its visitors’ shopping experience.

As a result of the continuing leasing momentum at the mall, Hollister Co., a division of Abercrombie & Fitch and Michaels, The Arts and Crafts Store are being constructed in hopes of strengthening the mall’s position in the marketplace as the premier shopping destination in Southern Illinois and surrounding areas, said Debra Tindall, general manager of University Mall.

During the past 18 months, the mall has added 66,000 square feet of open and occupied space, including room for the new Showplace 8 Theatre and the specialty store Bed, Bath & Beyond, which is scheduled to open in August.

Tindall said that she is confident that the addition of these two new stores will bring more traffic to the mall in the future.

“Stores of this caliber widen and broaden the primary trade market,” Tindall said.

Tindall said that the Hollister Co. and Michaels corporate offices perform extensive marketing research before they commit to putting stores in any location. After researching how they would do in Carbondale, Tindall said that the offices both decided that they would do well in the city.

Hollister Co. was described by Tindall as the newest southern California lifestyle retailer, offering styles for energetic, outgoing guys and girls. They will stock clothing, accessories, CDs and magazines that reflect coastal American lifestyle.

It is represented coast to coast with more than 250 stores, with the nearest store located in the St. Louis Galleria, 91 miles from Carbondale.

Jenny Koch, director of marketing at the St. Louis Galleria, said she believes Hollister Co. is a quality store for their mall, because it adds another type of store to cater to all of their customers.

“All of our stores bring something unique to our mall,” Koch said. “Hollister is great because it’s a really hot brand right now.”

Hollister Co. will be located adjacent to Wet Seal and will occupy 6,927 square feet, about 3 1/2 times larger than the average single family home. Construction of the store will commence in late July.

Michaels, The Arts and Crafts Store is the nation’s largest retailer of arts and crafts materials. Its products are to include arts, crafts, framing, floral, wall dcor and seasonal merchandise.

Michaels Stores, Inc. is based in Texas and has more than 770 locations in 48 states and Canada. The stores average 40,000 items and $2.9 million in sales a year. The nearest store is located in Fairview Heights, 87 miles from Carbondale.

Kelly Marrs, store manager of the Michaels in Fairview Heights, said that their store does “tremendous” business and believes one in Carbondale would do the same.

“We draw a lot of people from Southern Illinois into the St. Louis area to shop at our store,” said Marrs. “A Michaels should do fantastic in Carbondale.”

The new store, which will occupy approximately 12,000 square feet, will be located across from Showplace 8 Theatre and adjacent to Bed, Bath & Beyond. Construction of the store is now underway.

Tindall said having these stores in Carbondale is going to be beneficial to shoppers because they will no longer have to drive more than 85 miles to visit a Hollister or Michael’s store.

“The closest of either of these stores is in St. Louis,” Tindall said. “By opening them here, we have more to offer our customers.”

Reporter Jacey Cain can be reached at [email protected]