New decade, new shopping mall
The way in which people view and utilize malls has changed over the last decade. Our industry is no stranger to this fact. Our first mall project dates back to 1998 so we’ve watched this transformation unfold from the very beginning. However, we don’t believe extinction to be an inevitable dark cloud looming over every downtown galleria like some may say. Amenities will change, sure—but like everything, shopping malls that want a fighting chance will adapt and evolve to meet the needs of todays consumer.
Those that fight—and fight hard—will win.
Today’s modern mall should be more than a place to check off a long errand list. Unlike malls of the past, these refreshed shopping havens should offer opportunities for fun experiences, incorporate local businesses, and offer food courts that overflow with more than fast food chains. Malls must become thoughtful in their execution. There needs to be something for everyone.
We’ve seen this shift take shape recently after completing work on the American Dream Mall in Rutherford, New Jersey. American Dream (pictured below) boasts everything one can imagine in a luxury destination—450 retail, food, and specialty shops complemented by entertainment offerings like a fully enclosed DreamWorks Water Park, Nickelodeon Universe Theme Park, and a 16-story Indoor Ski & Snow Park. Situated just minutes from the bustling streets of New York City, a mall of this size is an asset to its surroundings.
Synergi custom stainless-steel railings
Synergi stainless-steel and glass railings
We can also see this theme carried out at the Beverly Center (pictured below) located in Los Angeles, California—a mall situated in a colorful community that thrives on technology and culture. And so, Beverly Center reinvented itself to infuse just that. Today, the mall offers a tech-savvy parking system that helps visitors quickly find a spot or locate their car, software-controlled exterior lighting so that it can shine vibrantly for different events, a new VIP membership program offering on-site and virtual concierge perks from making restaurant reservations and travel arrangements to procuring concert tickets and tracking down sold-out products, a number of destination dining options and more.
Synergi crystal glass railings
Synergi crystal glass railings
We aren’t saying that every mall needs a roller-coaster (unless data shows local residents love a good thrill) but we are saying every mall needs to get inventive, find ways to infuse the unique cultures of its surrounding communities, be mindful of every consumer, prioritize experience-based amenities, and employ the art of convenience. In short, turn your mall into a destination and watch it quickly become one.
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Plus, here’s a quick video highlighting a few of the malls we’ve worked on through the decades:
If your mall project is in need of decorative railings, monumental stairs, or ornamental metals, we can help! Click here to start the conversation with Synergi’s National Account Executive, Walter Bowie.
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