ZCMI will officially open its remodeled basement level Monday, Nov. 6, with an expanded food court and valet parking area.
"Our lower level area is now called `Salt Lake Downstairs,' designed to better meet the needs of downtown residents, business people and shoppers," said Lowell Durham, ZCMI president.The food and eating area surrounds the escalators at the center of the basement floor.
Retail departments on the lower level include books, luggage, toys, shoe repair, stationery, flowers, sundries, greeting cards, art needlework and sewing machines.
Small appliances, housewares and fine foods have been relocated to the fourth floor.
The valet parking will be the first service of its kind for a Utah shopping center.
ZCMI turned over 50,000 feet at the north end of the basement level to Zions Securities, managers of the ZCMI Center mall, to install about 100 parking spaces.
The service is targeted to the elderly shopper. Those having their cars parked by valets will enter the new parking area from the center's 1st South parking plaza entrance, located in the street median with the ramp descending underground. Valet parking shoppers will enter the mall from the ZCMI basement.
To use valet parking, shoppers must purchase at least $25 worth of goods at the mall. Customers can have store clerks deliver purchases to their cars and avoid carrying packages while shopping.
"It (valet parking service) might not be used much at first, but once people realize the convenience, it will increase," said mall manager Richard Coles.