More in store at the mall in Tupelo, Miss.

Sep 05, 2008 (Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal - McClatchy-Tribune News Service via COMTEX) -- CWTR | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating -- Sep. 5--TUPELO -- In the midst of a $13 million expansion and renovation, the 18-year-old Mall at Barnes Crossing has plenty of life left in it, judging by the new stores.

Later this month, on Sept. 17, a 30,000-square-foot Barnes & Noble will open. In the fall, women's specialty retailer Coldwater Creek opens.

In April, as part of the first phase of expansion, the 900,000-square-foot super-regional mall opened Dick's Sporting Goods, replacing the former Parisian department store.

Coldwater Creek is part of phase two, which will bring at least one new retailer.

Phase three includes a new indoor play area and a renovation of the food court, which has been partially finished with new seating and new paint and signs.

"We have a lot of activity going on at the mall," said mall General Manager Jeff Snyder.

And despite a less-than-stellar economy, the mall has managed to stay above the fray.

"Our official back-to-school numbers aren't in, but one of our strongest areas usually is back to school," he said. "Our stores were well-merchandised ... The season started a little early, but we think we did what we needed to do. We're getting a lot of positive feedback from our merchants. When it's uncertain economic times, you don't really know what to expect, but the indicators seem pretty good."

Usually, BTS is an indicator for the holiday shopping season, the key time for most retailers.

And sales are typically very strong at The Mall at Barnes Crossing, which ranks second in sales per square foot of any mall in the state.

That puts it at around $400 per square foot.

Snyder said the mall attracts some 12 million visitors a year, pulling in shoppers from a 75-mile radius.

That's helped make Lee County the retail hub of Northeast Mississippi.

Retail sales were more than $1.7 billion for the past two years.

Snyder said having a super-regional mall, complemented by a diverse mix of local retailers, is a big draw for area shoppers.

As for the mall itself, the addition of Barnes & Noble and Coldwater Creek bring new design elements. The retailers feature new stone and brick facades, sidewalks, entrances and colors that eventually will spread to the rest of the mall, Snyder said.

"There will be a lot of buzz about the new elements at the mall," he said. "There are some folks, believe it or not, who come just once or twice a year, and they'll be seeing new things that we think they'll appreciate."

As for other retailers coming to the mall, Snyder said negotiations are continuing.

"We have another retailer committed to come and is ready to go, but we didn't want to have construction going on during the holidays like we did last year," he said.

To see more of Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.djournal.com. Copyright (c) 2008, Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal, Tupelo, Miss. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.

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