The Sunporch Cafe at East Hills Shopping Center still has a ways to go before it reaches maximum capacity, with only two of the spaces operational.
Another deadline has passed.
The East Hills Shopping Center is nearly complete, but there is still a significant lack of expected tenants.
The $131 million project received tax-increment funding approval in January 2008 and was anticipated to be completed by Oct. 1, 2008. That date was pushed back to November 2008, and then to April 2009.
With the exception of off-site improvements, all work on the mall should be done by the end of May, said Jim Bowers, an attorney for both East Hills and MD Management, the mall's management company.
"We've had some delays," he said.
Mr. Bowers contends that officials are still talking to future tenants.
"It's really just about trying to figure out where national chains are and if they are ready to move forward with expansion plans," he said. "I'm hoping for this fall. I want to be an optimist."
The Sunporch Cafe opened in March. Original Pizza was the first to move in, and Tokyo-San Japanese Grill & Sushi opened April 17.
A second Chinese restaurant is in the works. GB Chinese is working on design plans with MD Management for an upcoming location. No plans or permits have been submitted to the city.
The Cookie Factory Bakery Coffee Cafe opened the day after Thanksgiving and plans to continue a presence in the shopping center.
John Jarrett, president of Breadeaux, purchased the franchise as an addition to the pizza chain and Country Kitchen stores. There is an additional cookie store location at Zona Rosa in Kansas City. The snack shop features cookies, snacks, coffees and Topsy's popcorn. Purchasing the popcorn name was part of the picture for the company.
While East Hills is still under construction, the improvements are making both tenants and shoppers eager to see the final result.
"It's pretty cool how it looks - like a big-city mall," said Kelsey Marquart, a mall shopper.
But it is taking a while. Bev King, a frequent mall walker, said she is frustrated by the project, even though the end result could mean good things for the mall.
"I'm just waiting for the ball to drop," she said. "I don't think this is going to turn out the way it was supposed to. People are losing their jobs left and right, so why would new stores open up here?"
Jim Harpool, of Harpool Morgan Haney, which is overseeing the project, said there would be 35 new tenants, not including the 16 new kiosks throughout the corridors.
"I think it's still very possible that things could pick up again," Mr. Bowers said.
He said he is looking forward to an upcoming shopping center convention in Las Vegas at the end of the month. "The purpose for that is to get landlords and tenants together," he said. "Nothing will be a better indicator."
Mr. Bowers said it's sometimes easy to judge things from the outside.
"But we're very comfortable with the condition we're in, given the current state of the economy," he said. "Tenants want to be here, but as soon as the economy adjusts."
Jennifer Hall can be reached at jennhall@npgco.com.
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heritage_sarahhochschwender says...
the mall looks terrific. there is every reason to be optimistic about the outcome. even though the timeline may be less than optimal, construction delays are certainly not something unusual. the tenants will come eventually. better to wait for the economy to come around than to have tenants open and then close their doors. have a little faith, people, and try to look on the bright side.
May 9, 2009 at 7:43 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
arch286 says...
First, the updates at East Hills Mall should have been done 30 years ago, not in an age where malls are being torn down and consumers shopping patterns are changing. Second, the mall does look nice and it is a great improvement. Third, will new businesses open in the mall, big question in an age where a lot of mall type stores have faded away. Fourth, as a person that has worked in the local retail community for many years in national chain stores and my own "local" retail business experience, the customer base here is an odd mix that outsiders find hard to understand until they decide to close their outlet. This market draws a lot of customers from eastern KS, NW MO, SW IA, and SE NE plus the small local market of consumers with disposable income. The majority of local consumers shop based on price, or drive south to Kansas City. It is very hard to make any profit in this market when everyone is so price driven because of their low incomes. Hard for any retailer to make a profit after expenses, and most retailers have cut benefits to staff in an attempt to show a profit, and offer low wages. Another fact is that many national retailers will NOT ever pay competitive wages in this market because they do NOT have to do that to obtain quality employees. Also national chains have to answer to their parent offices and wall street. While a store sales may sound great to locals, it may be a disappointment to outsiders. A small retailer normally should do over a million in sales to be consider okay. Walk into a lot of local shops during the week, and a few "lookers" are actually costing the retailer. In major markets consumers have to be almost standing by the trucks as they are unloaded to obtain the best merchandise, not in St. Joseph, here most people wait for it to be marked down to below cost. St. Joseph is poor, look at the success of Wal-mart. A retail community reflects the "lifestyle" of the its' customers.
May 9, 2009 at 8:10 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
heritage_sarahhochschwender says...
was that mall even built 30 years ago?
May 9, 2009 at 8:32 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
goobentrot says...
I returned to St. Joe from the military in 1965 and the mall was there then so it's at least 45 years old. when the economy comes back a little bit they will do great because of location-locataion-location. This is the seacond major upgrade. Those who remember the original mall will recall it had a theater in it.
May 9, 2009 at 9:49 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
billybob says...
Thats good news and the mall looks very nice. I hope we get alot of outside shoppers using the mall because now we have almost all of our significant retail in a TIF district. Which means less revenue for the city, county and schools and more of a burden on the taxpayers.
May 9, 2009 at 10:07 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
longarm45 says...
St. Jo is not poor, we are simply good shoppers.
I will not pay $200 for a pair of sneakers for my grandson, as "poor" families do. He & I shop to find what he wants at the best price; I am teaching him a valuable economic lesson. This is why I am NOT "poor".
Yes, my wife & I spend most of our money at WALMART. That is why we can travel 6 months of the year, and home base in ST. JO because I am not going to pay 3 times the price for housing in SHAWNEE!
May 9, 2009 at 12:51 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
boogy_d says...
I grew up 80 miles northeast of here but have lived in St. Joe for the last 10 years. I remember coming to St. Joe to go shopping because off all of the different stores available. And I can guarantee that is still the trend for all of the small surrounding towns..to come to St. Joe...I cant go to the mall or Target or Kohls without seeing someone from one of the small towns I grew up around. One thing is for certain, St. Joe people may not be poor (I think every town has a good mix of both) but they sure are negative! No "porch waivers" here...only cranky naysayers! Hey..St. Joe..guess what? There is a whole other world outside the city limits! SUPRISE!! Once you figure that out..maybe we can start changing attitudes!
May 9, 2009 at 1:16 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
David says...
goobentrot,
I hope your right about East Hills making a comeback when the economy picks up. I was thinking it first opened in 63 or 64. If I remember right the theater in the mall was the Fox. I do recall seeing 18 year old Don Johnson in the movie "Zachariah" ( http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0068011/ ) there in the early 70's.
God Bless America, God Save The Republic.
May 9, 2009 at 8:29 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
housemouse1953 says...
We all know the bad economic news scenario as it doesn't change a whole lot from day to day. It will get better, but it is going to take awhile, I'm afraid longer than any of us could've imagined and now we're in debt so deep one wonders if we'll ever arrive back at the top of the barrel so to speak? Let me share an experience I had two weeks ago on a short shopping spree in St.Joe. I live in NW MO and come down occasionally, this time looking for a major appliance. Had a little cash in the pocket and was eager to make a purchase, in an eager to buy frame of mind, but began to wonder if I had landed on Mars? The first 3 major stores I went to, I spent probably a good 15 minutes trying to find a salesperson, and when I did, the first one dismissed me quickly to return to his sleepy conversation on his cell phone, with the nod that he would have a couple more of the appliances I was looking for later the next week. The second major store was pretty much the same, did find a couple of eager helpers in the next department over after another lengthy wait, and there were sales people swarming, but no one to assist? No they didn't have anything available to take home, would be glad to order. The third store, nice display and I won't even comment on the customer service there as I was directed to a different store in town. Folks, I cut my teeth on customer service, and it is a far cry from what I'm seeing today in town. Finally at the 4th major store on the other end of town, I was greated pleasantly by every salesperson I saw, and before I even got to the department where my appliance was, I was met by an associate, and had the sale completed in less than 5 minutes. Guess which store I will be returning to soon to buy another appliance? I shop for quality, price, and most of all service. I am one of those people who is glad to pay a little more for customer service. If you truly want our business, you might need to try a little, or maybe we are costing you too much just to stay open?
May 9, 2009 at 9:42 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )