Hanford Mall Opening in August
By
John Lindt
Hanford - Hanford and the Hanford Mall got good news recently when L.A.-based youth fashion retailer Forever 21 agreed to open next month in the former Gottschalks space.
“We are just so excited,” says the mall manager, Diana Silva. “We understand they've signed the papers.”
Gottschalks closed for good this past weekend, setting the stage for the next chapter for the mall that they trust won't mean more empty spaces to come.
Silva says Forever 21 held a job fair at the mall this past weekend and sources say they may hire as many as 100 to 200 to staff the large 83,000-square-foot space – beginning training in just a few weeks.
Forever 21 Vice President Larry Meyer told the Voice, “We hope to open in August, offering our full line of styles and product lines,” in Hanford.
“We will have no problem filling these larger format stores,” that are opening now in vacant box spaces left by retailers such as Mervyn's and Gottschalks. Forever 21 has been building 40,000-square-foot stores for the past two years,” notes Meyer.
Typically, a Forever 21 store may be as small as 10,000 square feet. But as the fast-growing firm has acquired many former department store-size buildings, it has expanded its lines of deep discount fashion. “I think the shoppers there will see a great array of products including tops as low as $3 to $10 on average and denims from $12.”
Categories include youth-oriented casual clothing, career clothing and plus-size outfits, he says.
The teen fashion company has decided to expand just as most others are pulling back
Meyer says the company continues to have an interest in opening in Visalia too and had been talking to the Visalia Mall prior to Macy's taking the Gottschalks space there.
Meyer says he has no information about a rumor that Forever 21 might be in talks over the empty Mervyn's space at the Sequoia Mall.
Kohl's Coming?
Meanwhile, the Mervyn's space at the Hanford Mall may get a Kohl's, say reliable sources, although Silva says there is no firm news. “We are hopeful the mall will fill up completely by the holidays,” says Silva – noting she understands discussions with Kohl's are ongoing.
Industry sources say Hanford's large trade area can support a Kohl's, unlike Porterville and Tulare.
The mall got more bad news the other day with news that the Anchor Blue store would close in Hanford along with many other locations.
Silva says specialty retail deals that do not require a long-term commitment is helping to fill the empty spaces at the mall and some upgrading of spaces is helping too. She says negotiations to fill two vacant food court slots are underway.
Forever 21 should help bring back the youth shopper to the mall with its “fast casual” outfits at very low prices – good competition for Ross.
Another retailer in this category, H&M – a Swedish retailer – is reportedly looking for locations in the Valley after announcing it would open in Modesto soon. The company will likely target the Valley's larger markets like Fresno and Visalia.
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