Apple is going to be joining other retailers in the new expansion to Charlotte, NC’s SouthPark mall. The news comes in an article posted to the Charlotte Business Journal’s Web site penned by staff writer Ashley M. Gibson.
| <?php virtual(“/includes/boxad.inc”); ?> |
Located at the corner of Sharon and Fairview Roads in Charlotte, North Carolina, SouthPark is home to more than 100 specialty stores. The mall is presently undergoing a US$100 million expansion with a new wing containing a Nordstrom department store as its anchor.
Positioned as a “high-end” expansion, the mall’s former owners, Rodamco, had hoped to attract the likes of Armani, Louis Vuitton and other boutiques to the new spot. With a continued weak economy, however, it appears that new owners (and frequent Apple mall collaborators) Simon Property Group are settling for a slightly more mainstream mix of shops, which has raised the ire of local residents hoping for a more chic shopping experience, said Gibson.
International Council of Shopping Centers spokeswoman Patrice Duker said that Apple’s addition to the new wing is a feather in SouthPark’s cap — her company lists Apple’s retail stores as one of the hottest new retailers in the market. “It’s a new venue for Apple, and mall owners want them,” Duker told Gibson.