Complete coverage
The Springfield News-Sun is committed to providing unmatched coverage of the Upper Valley Mall. For this story, the paper spoke to business owners, mall staff and local governemnt officials about the mall as it continues to try to attract new tenants.
The Upper Valley Mall will have a new food option starting today when Chick-fil-A is expected to open a kiosk in its center court near Macy’s.
The kiosk will have a limited menu, but will serve sandwiches and other popular items from the fast food chain, said Carla Miller, a specialty leasing representative for Urban Retail Properties, LLC.
One of the mall’s current tenants also recently opened a new, separate business at the mall as well, Miller said.
The mall’s success is important because it provides an important role in the region’s economy, said George Degenhart, planning and zoning director in German Twp.
Chick-fil-A will be a good fit for the mall, and will offer another choice for customers who have been asking for more food options in the area, Miller said.
“It will bring more people out here at the mall,” she said.
Urban Retail took over management of the mall earlier this year and is working to attract new tenants after its previous owner, Simon Management Associates, LLC, defaulted on a roughly $47 million loan.
Chris Loweth, a Chick-fil-A franchisee who also owns and operates a location at the Mall at Fairfield Commons in Beavercreek, will also manage the new Springfield location.
The kiosks are a relatively new concept for the region. Food will be cooked in Beavercreek and transported to Springfield in special heated bags to keep it fresh, Miller said.
The kiosk will serve a limited menu that includes sandwiches, cookies, waffle potato chips, tea and bottled drinks, Loweth said.
“I’ve heard a lot of feedback about bringing Chick-fil-A to Springfield,” Loweth said. “This is one of the ways we can do that.”
The kiosk signed a short-term lease with the mall initially from December to February, Loweth said. The chain could extend the lease further, depending on customer feedback.
The mall is also trying to attract other tenants and hosting more events in an attempt to drive more foot traffic to the mall. The owners of Rustiques, a long-term tenant, also recently opened a second store in the mall called Heavens to Betsy in the JCPenney concourse, Miller said. The owner of that store could not be reached for comment Wednesday.
Urban Retail recently invested in several facility improvements, including new paint and carpet, refurbished bathrooms and exterior landscaping, said Brenda Labonte, Upper Valley Mall manager. Those projects have already been completed, and the mall is also focusing on hosting community events designed to bring more foot traffic to the space, she added.
The mall will host Santa Cares event from 10:30 a.m.-noon Sunday, allowing children with special needs a quiet environment to have their photo taken with Santa. The event will take place at the Santa Photo Experience in the center court in front of Macy’s. Families are encouraged to RSVP in advance at Abilitypath.org.
Malls in general have to be more creative to find new ways to draw customers, said Degenhart. Online shopping and other factors have changed shopping habits for customers, forcing change not just in Springfield but in communities across the U.S., he added.
“We have changed as consumers and that is going to dictate what the mall is going to look like,” Degenhart said.
About the Author