The Mall of San Juan marks 1st year with full agenda
Marnie Marquina, director of marketing and sponsorship and José A. Ayala-Bonilla, general manager of the mall discuss first-year results.
The Mall of San Juan is marking its first anniversary next week with a full agenda of events and plans to open at least 10 stores this year, mall officials confirmed Tuesday.
“It’s been an incredible year and The Mall of San Juan continues to positively impact the island,” said José A. Ayala-Bonilla, general manager of the mall. “Over the next year we will continue to build on these milestones and improve our already strong lineup of stores.”
Although the executive would not disclose whether foot traffic at the mall over the last year met expectations, he said operators were happy with the reception from Puerto Rico shoppers.
“Our expectations for 2016 is that by adding 10 new stores, we will have a new chance at success and that Puerto Rico customers are able to have access to brands formerly unavailable on the island,” he said. “We’re happy with what we’ve achieved so far.”
The list of future new tenants includes: Krispy Kreme, Letran Joyeros, Luis Antonio, Think Big Store and clothing retailer H&M, which is expected to open in late May.
The Mall of San Juan has more than 80 shops and restaurants in its portfolio, 32 which opened their doors Mar. 26, 2015 when the shopping center began operating. More than 70 percent of the shops in the mall are new to the Puerto Rico market. During the past 12 months, the shopping center has generated some 2,500 jobs, Ayala-Bonilla said.
“Our brands differentiate the mall in a convincing way and the merchandise available at our diverse portfolio of stores talks about the uniqueness of the island,” said Marnie Marquina, director of marketing and sponsorship of The Mall of San Juan. “Over the past year, the center has been transformed to offer a mix of contemporary fashion and designs inspired by the beauty of the island.”
Aside from the shopping and dining experiences, the mall has integrated activities for a range of audiences, ranging from children to professionals, looking for entertainment alternatives, she said.
In celebration of its first anniversary, The Mall of San Juan will hold its Fashion Week from Mar. 31 to April 3rd at the Grand Court.
Aside from the $405 million, 600,000 square-foot shopping center owned by Taubman Centers and New Century Development Corp., plans for the 27-acre parcel of land adjacent to the San Jose Lagoon included the construction of a 225-room Crowne Plaza hotel and casino. However, the date for the groundbreaking has not yet been set.
