It
has been more than 20 years since its last renovation project and
this new project will propel it into the 21st
century.
Some
people are of the opinion that malls are on their death-bed, but
officials at Simon, the owners of Menlo, said the market within New
Jersey is still strong.
The
shopping behavior of consumers has changed over the years. If they
wish to buy something, there is generally no need to leave home.
However, places such as Amazon do not offer movie theaters where you
are served wine, or soft couches in large spaces, or the chance for
you to be seen and see others in public. This is the reason why
malls are being changed to cater for these social and entertainment
needs of consumers.
To achieve this, Menlo will see the installation
of new carpeting, couches and renovation of its central elevators.
Upon completion, the mall will sport new LED lighting fixtures, new
bathrooms and new exterior signage.
There
will be cellphone chargers in the new center court area, which will
act as a gathering place for shoppers. The food court will be
changed into a ‘dining pavilion’.
The
work is due to commence during early April and none of the stores
will be affected by it. The planned completion date is November,
ready for the Christmas season. Certain areas may be roped off
during the renovations, but most of the work will be done after
hours.
The
mayor of Edison, Thomas Lankey, attended the groundbreaking ceremony
at the mall, where he smashed a ceramic tile and noted that polls
indicate Menlo Park Mall is one of the most popular shopping areas
within the state. He said he will definitely appreciate the
comfortable couches due to be installed.
Menlo
Park Mall was first opened as an open-air shopping center during
1960. It was converted to a closed mall during 1968 and its last
major renovation was during 1991.
