By November shoppers at Tutu Park Mall will be able to shop longer and access Kmart directly from the mall without going outside.
Construction to join the mall and Kmart through a 16 foot entrance way is set to begin in September and be completed by November, according to Pamela Morales, marketing director for Tutu Park Mall.
The entry way will be placed where After Thoughts is now. Morales said even though After Thoughts will close, "Claire's owns After Thoughts," and Claire's will still have a store in the mall. Morales said two more stores will go into the entry way area.
John Foster, co-owner of the mall, said, "Both corporations knew it was something that had to be done to facilitate the entire shopping experience at Tutu Park Mall."
The expanded hours will also allow for more events at the mall, Morales said.
"Our current mall hours do not really allow for events during weekdays like community meeting, dance recital or plays, which are requests we have received lately.
Morales couldn't say exactly what the mall's expanded hours will be, only that they will be closer to Kmart's hours.
Currently the mall hours are:
Mon. – Thurs. 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Fri, Sat. 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Sun. 12 noon to 5 p.m.
Kmart's hours are:
Mon. – Sat. 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Sun. 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Morales said the entry way will be good for both Kmart and the mall retailers. "You won't have to go outside to enter either way. It will bring more traffic both ways."
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