Competition, economy take toll on Seminole Towne Center
23.05.12
In a region with too many malls, Orlando retail analyst Britt Beemer said, Seminole Towne Center "never seemed … to be embraced as a great place to go."
Even so, the mall's leadership points to encouraging signs. Dick's Sporting Goods will open later this year in the top half of an anchor store empty since late 2010. The bottom half remains unleased.
And four years after leaving, Express will reopen in July.
In an e-mail, manager Larry Scollo said his center keeps improving and has performed well "given the challenging economic environment." Calling the tenant mix "fresh" and "contemporary," he said newer stores have exceeded expectations.
Dick's Sporting Goods will go into the top floor of what had been a Belk. The anchor space was originally the region's first Parisian, described as the "Nordstrom of the South." That became a lower-priced McRae's before Belk took over.
The latest national retailers to leave were the Disney Store and Motherhood Maternity. Disney Store will open in Mall at Millenia. Motherhood Maternity has moved to a shopping center down the street.
Source: Orlando Sentinel