Think of the ZCMI Center as a work in progress.
True, the downtown shopping center will be 20 years old in September, but the changes and upgrades made in 1994, along with those set to come early in 1995, should keep the mall on the retail cutting edge well into the new century.While many cities have seen shoppers flee their urban retail centers for suburban malls, Salt Lake City's downtown stores have held their own, said Doug Buchi, director of retail leasing for mall owner Zions Securities Corp.
"The ZCMI Center mall is on the move and will continue to grow as we develop a tenant mix of shopping and services to meet consumer demands of the '90s and beyond," said Buchi.
Some $6 million in improvements to tenant and common space were completed in 1994, covering more than 80,000 square feet of space, said Buchi. Twenty new leases were signed in '94 involving new stores or new and expanded locations for existing businesses.
New leases for existing tenants include expanded space and a new eastside entrance for Deseret Book, which took over space formerly occupied by First Interstate Bank, now relocated into the adjoining Eagle Gate Plaza on South Temple. Manager Boyd Ware said the new look for the store has resulted in "double digit" sales growth for the store.
The Mr. Mac clothing store has signed a 10-year lease with a move up to the second level in 12,000 square feet of space formerly occupied by Gart Sports.
Gart Sports has relocated into 15,636 square feet of space on the second level in an area formerly known as Centennial Avenue. Zions Securities Retail Division manager Mel Pearson noted that area has long been a problem because it was a dark, dead-end corridor.
No longer. The front of the new Gart Sports has been pulled forward 56 feet nearer the top of the escalators to become one of the brightest, most easily accessible stores in the mall.
The back portion of the former Centennial Avenue has been leased to First Security Corp., part of two recent projects that added nearly 10,000 square feet of space in the mall's First South corridor for the First Security Financial Center's Foreign Exchange and Tax Division.
As part of that expansion, the mall's south entrance on First South was redesigned to bring in more light and brighten up the hallway with light beige marble wall tiles. The State Street entrance on the east side of the mall was also redesigned and now includes a lift for wheelchair access.
"Our State Street and First South entrances were the dark stepchildren of the Main Street and South Temple entrances," said Pearson. "We wanted to open them up and create entrances that say `retail center' not `office building.' I believe that mission has been accomplished."
Pearson noted that there are more than 55,000 people working within a four-block radius of the mall. "We plan to cater to them as part of our center's overall plans for expansion and development."
New tenants in the mall include:
Fast Signs, a franchise operation with its first mall location. Buchi said the company's corporate headquarters is so pleased with the new store it is using it as a prototype for future development.
Fotogenix, a one-hour portrait studio that allows customers to select their prints by video.
Brauns, a national chain of women's apparel that assumed the lease of Brook's Fashions.
U.S. Postal Service, a self-service post office termed "the store of the future" by the Postal Service and the first of its kind in the Mountain West.
Customer Service Center, tripled in size and located near the Center Court, it offers year-round gift wrapping and expanded Utah Transit Authority service.
Cafe Creole, offering Creole and Cajun cooking, it completes the total of 13 food operations in The Park atrium food court - expanded by 130 seats in '94 - at the South Temple entrance on the second level.
Times Ticking, watches, clocks and nostalgia collectibles from the '50s and '60s era.
Classy Woman, formerly Classy Lady, career women's apparel.
Retail Merchandising Units, or RMUs is the new term for kiosks or carts - such as the new Stix custom golf equipment supplier in the Center Court - which are being located around the center on month-to-month leases.
"The RMUs energize the mall, creating a European, sidewalk vendor flavor," said Buchi, adding that these vendors are selected for their ability to complement, not compete with, the mainline stores.
Rest rooms, remodeled and doubled in size.
Scheduled for opening early in 1995 is Famous Footware, a national chain of 700 stores that Buchi said sells name brand family shoes at value prices. It will occupy the space on the second level formerly leased by Gregory's Toys, which has closed that location.
Also scheduled for opening this year is the new Metro Sports Club, a 21,600-square-foot fitness and wellness center being constructed in space on the first level formerly occupied by Mr. Mac and enclosing the former north hallway.
The club will offer aerobics, strength training, weight control, wellness programs, a nutrition bar, physical therapy, cardiovascular management, a junior Olympic lap pool, tanning and massage, steam and whirlpool, weight equipment and more.
With the north hallway enclosed, the south hallway on the State Street corridor has been widened by 18 feet to accommodate shoppers from offices on State Street and the new Social Hall Plaza building under construction. A huge mural by Utah artist Al Rounds, depicting the area of 900 South and Main Street before the turn of the century is a feature of the new corridor.
Also scheduled for opening early this year is a national chain featuring nature- and science-related merchandise that has asked not to be named at this time. It will occupy 2,250 square feet on the South Temple corridor near the Food Court.
Signing new leases were Candlelight Flowers, which has a new storefront and a new owner; Office and Things, also with a new storefront; Juliette's, Achilles Heel, 60 Minute Photo, Kara Chocolates, Candy Headquarters and Britoni Customs.
Buchi said space on the first level now occupied by Mini World, Bentley Square and others will be used as "incubator space" for start-up companies who want to test their ability to do business in a major mall without committing to long-term leases. "They'll be able to lease for six months to a year to see if their idea works," said Buchi.