THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, October 8, 1996 TAG: 9610080426
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: D1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY STEPHANIE STOUGHTON, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: 51 lines
Lynnhaven Mall, the market leader among South Hampton Roads malls, has completed its $7 million renovation, sprucing up everything from the floors to the ceiling.
In the past year, designers and work crews have revamped the mall's small courtyards, adding statues of winged lions, turquoise benches and new trees. About 20 skylights now brighten the mall's corridors, and tiles speckled with light green marble adorn the floors.
``I think the way they remodeled made the mall much lighter and airier,'' said Monina Dizon, assistant manager for Reeds Jewelers. ``It's a nice change.
The mall's makeover comes at a time when the area's indoor shopping centers are scurrying to renovate, expand and add perks.
In September, Norfolk's Military Circle Mall unveiled the results of its $12 million makeover. Not to be outdone, Patrick Henry Mall in Newport News announced plans for a $40 million overhaul.
It's no coincidence that the rush to renovate comes at a time when the fight for shoppers' dollars is intensifying. One of the biggest threats to area malls may be MacArthur Center, a three-level, up-scale shopping center being built in downtown Norfolk.
But Lynnhaven doesn't want to share its shoppers.
The 15-year-old mall, which finished its renovation last month, has been luring pricier retailers, such as Abercrombie & Fitch, and plans to add more.
About 20 percent to 30 percent of the shopping center's leases with tenants turn over next year, which will give the mall's management a chance to get rid of unproductive retailers and add more successful ones.
``Our long-term strategy is to bring more upscale stores to this market,'' said Tammy Dodson, mall spokeswoman.
The mall's management also has been searching for a new anchor for several years. One prospect may be Dillard Department Stores, which has agreed to open in MacArthur Center.
Unlike Nordstrom, which also is debuting in the Norfolk mall, Dillard did not sign an agreement that keeps it from opening other stores in the Hampton Roads market.
With 1.1 million square feet of retail space and more than 160 stores, Lynnhaven is the largest among the region's indoor malls. The Virginia Beach mall is owned by a subsidiary of the New York State Teachers Retirement Fund. ILLUSTRATION: [Color Photo]
HUY NGUYEN
The Virginian-Pilot
Among the renovations at Lynnhaven Mall in Virginia Beach: about 20
skylights to brighten its corridors. by CNB