The Layton Hills Mall this summer will bring in more upscale merchants and revamp its interior to try to attract more affluent customers.
"Malls are living, breathing organisms. They're always changing," said Linda Kelley, Layton Hills general manager. "We're at the biggest change this mall's going to experience."The mall has seen few modifications since its 1980 opening. But since that time, Layton's average income has progressed from $23,300 to $32,457 in 1993, according to calculations from federal income tax returns.
In hopes of attracting more affluent shoppers, the mall did not renew the leases of businesses catering to customers with marginal incomes, including Foxmoor, the Right Price and Stuart's Plus.
Mall officials are replacing them with stores such as JMR/Chalk Garden Inc., Lane Bryant, Euro Comfort and Bath & Body.
Designers from a Seattle architecture firm will replace the mall's '80s glitz with a decor patterned after Utah's landscape.
Callison Architecture Inc. will replace dark brick floors with light beige, blue and green tiles, Kelley said.
Wood, glass and neon will replace plastic wall designs, and waterfall-inspired chandeliers will replace artificial skylights.
To increase traffic flow, architects plan to add elevators and escalators and bring the sunken center court up to ground level. A mosaic depicting a river will flow through the court.
Kelly declined to specify the cost of the redesign.