LAYTON -- Being down an anchor tenant this Christmas shopping season in a tight economy has done nothing to diminish the hopes of the owners of the Layton Hills Mall.
The mall, which opened in 1980, features three anchor tenants in JC Penney, Macy's and The Sports Authority, with about 90,000 square feet of space once occupied by Mervyns now vacant.
But mall owners CBL & Associates Properties, Inc., out of Chattanooga, Tenn., are projecting another strong holiday shopping season for the 100-plus store mall based on 97 percent occupancy, low turnover, a young demographic and a low statewide unemployment rate compared to the rest of the nation.
It is those same characteristics that make CBL officials confident the Mervyns space will soon be filled, although they could offer no specifics.
"For my region, this mall's numbers are very encouraging. We are holding our own during this down time," said Todd Anderton, marketing director for CBL's Dallas, Texas, region. The region takes in 12 malls from Louisiana to California.
Anderton and CBL marketing director Brian Lutz, have been meeting with mall merchants this week to help market their businesses.
Because of budget constraints, the Layton mall no longer has an on-site marketing specialist, Anderton said.
To help merchants better market their businesses, CBL is offering on-line coupons and on-premises coupon books, Lutz said.
CBL & Associates, developers and managers of 89 mall and open-air regional shopping centers, is also positioning itself locally for a stronger 2010 by working with the Davis Area Convention & Visitors Bureau.
But it is current demographics and growth of the area that have Anderton confident the mall will fill the Mervyns, space, left vacant when the department store chain went out of business.
Anderton said the merchandise-mix of what a new tenant will bring to the mall compared to what already exists will be considered to prevent a short-term decision from creating a long-term problem.
"I think this mall is a great example of what we do well," he said. Based on that, Anderton said, CBL ownership is conscious about keeping the Layton mall strong.
"I want a store that makes all the boats float," he said.
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