Shoppes at Bel Air expanding dining, entertainment
MOBILE, Ala. (WKRG) — The owners of Mobile’s largest shopping center are welcoming new businesses as they try to lure more families back to the Shoppes at Bel Air. They also want to assure shoppers the mall is a safe place for families.
With an assortment of new food options and community events, they hope to get more families who want to shop and dine. By summer you’ll see changes right at the front entrance.
In place of the old PF Chang’s will be a Korean Food restaurant –Tao Hot Pot and BBQ. On the opposite side will be a space for a new bakery and they’ve almost closed a deal for a new tenant at what used to be the Texas de Brazil restaurant. The principal owner says the mall has been an important landmark for the city.
Safety has sometimes been a concern. In 2016 there was a shooting in the parking lot of the mall. In 2018 there was a shooting in a Victoria’s Secret store. In 2020 a man was shot in the parking lot. And in January two were arrested following a shooting. Mall officials say they are always improving security and say safety is a top priority.
“We actually have really good security. There is no you know, there’s no cure for stupid. And the people that did this are stupid. This is the wrong thing to do inside a shopping center. You know, take your dispute somewhere else,” said principal owner Felix Reznick. Reznick says they want the Shoppes to be a destination for families and hope the coming additions will give more people a reason to go.
They’re also planning community events for Mother’s Day and Easter to entice more people through the front door. While malls have seen shrinking retail traffic, Reznick says their sales are better now than pre-covid days.
They’re always looking for people with ideas to start businesses or improve the facility. There’s a leasing link here.
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