New anchor store opens at Coventry Mall
Gabe’s store opening the first of several big changes happening at the mall
When the new Gabe’s store opened at the Coventry Mall on Saturday — it represented the culmination of nearly a year of work bymall owner Pennmark Management Co.
The plans to bring Gabe’s into the mall were announced in October. Located in the former Sears store, Gabe’s occupies 45,000-square feet, according to its parent company. The store needed to be divided — to accommodate Gabe’s and Limerick Furniture. Painting and construction soon followed, along with the hiring and training of a staff of about 100.
Owned by Gabriel Brothers Inc., the North Coventry Gabe’s is the first in the tricounty region, and only the third in Pennsylvania. The chain offers famous brand apparel, footwear and accessories, aswell ashomedécor, electronics and toys, at up to 70 percent off department store prices. It is the fourth anchor store for the Coventry Mall.
Following a soft-opening on Thursday, the store officially opened at 8 a.m. Saturday with a ribbon cutting and giveaways for the first 200 shoppers.
“This is huge. It is the fruition of what we have talked about and it’s the first cog in all the larger changes that are coming,” said Steve Batten, mall manager and director ofmarketing. “I’mnot aware of another mall that has donewhat we have been able to pull off in a year.”
At about the sametimethe Gabe’s deal was announced in the fall, the mall’s operators unveiled plans for a facelift for the mall — which includes the construction of a new mall entrance adjacent to Gabe’s. That entrance is still under construction, and Batten expects work to be completedwithin the next 30 days.
“Whenyoudriveup to the mall we want it to look like the front of themall,” he said.
According to Batten, there is not an entrance to themall fromGabe’s, but he adds the new mall entrance will give easy access to the mall for Gabe’s shoppers.
The goal for the area near the new entrance is to create a courtyardwith outdoor seating for a planned restaurant.
Pennmark Management Co. CFO Bob Sichelstiel said in an interview Thursday that his company is inter- ested in finding a brew pub operator for that space.
“We’re also trying to create a beauty hub — so we’re looking for a hair salon perhaps with a spa next to it. We’re searching for that now. We love working with local companies,” he said, adding that the restaurant could be anywhere from 6,000 to 14,000 square feet. “The size will dictate what we do with the balance of the space.”
WhenPennmarkManagement Co. took possession of themall last April, CEO Don Cafiero said at the time that the main goal was to fill vacancies and bringmore people to the mall.
WhenPennmarkacquired the property, the mall was about 65 percent occupied, according to Batten. Today, the figure sits at about 88 percent. In addition, 11 new vendors have been added, and the former arcade has been turned into a community meeting room for area community groups.
Batten said that two additional large tenants will soon be added to the mall complex. Lomax Carpet and Tile will be opening in late spring in the former Superfresh store — occupying 40,000 square feet.
And he said Thursday that Pennmark is just days from signing a deal thatwill bring a medical facility into the 30,000-square-foot former Ross Dress for Less store.