Urban Retail LLC, one of the nation’s leading third-party real estate management firms, has assumed management, leasing and marketing of the 960,000-square-foot, two-level Savannah Mall, located at 14045 Abercorn Street.
The firm plans to develop new leasing and marketing strategies and forge new relationships with the city, county and community organizations, according to Phil O’Connell, who comes to Savannah Mall from Oglethorpe Mall, where he served as senior general manager.
Also coming to Savannah Mall from General Growth Properties is Becky Orsi-Faircloth, who serves the new management team as marketing/specialty leasing manager.
“Savannah Mall and the Urban Retail team have many positive changes in store,” McConnell said, noting that sales at the mall increased by 2 percent in 2012.
“We are making improvements to the mall’s physical appearance, actively marketing the center to national and local retailers and capitalizing on the unique mix of anchors.”
A new attraction, partnership
On Friday morning, the mall will unveil its newest attraction, a double-decker carousel.
Located in the mall’s food court, the two-level carousel is the first of its kind in Savannah and, according to owner/operator Fun Brands Carousels, the only one of its kind in Georgia.
The wildlife-themed carousel stands 28 feet tall and features hand-crafted and hand-painted animals. In addition to showcasing traditional animals such as horses, the double-decker carousel is the only known carousel to have an okapi and lemur. It’s also the first carousel in the city to feature brighter and more energy-efficient LED lighting.
“A ride on a carousel is timeless. It’s something that brings back memories of our youth and can build a lifetime of memories with our children,” said Lee Knowlton, president and CEO of Fun Brands Carousels. “We’re thrilled to be opening our first carousel under the Fun Brands Carousels name with our great partners at the Savannah Mall.”
During the ribbon-cutting festivities, a special animal from Oatland Island Wildlife Center of Savannah will be on hand to greet visitors in celebration of the carousel and its wildlife theme. The animal’s appearance is part of a community partnership between Oatland Island and the Savannah Mall. The year-long partnership will include community educational events and other special activities.
“The partnership with Oatland Island is a great example of the new direction that we’re taking at the Savannah Mall,” McConnell said. “One of our priorities is creating fun and educational opportunities for children and families. The programming we’re planning with Oatland Island will give families additional access to the many great resources they have there.”
Bringing new shopping experiences
A new carousel is just the beginning of changes planned for Savannah Mall.
Building on anchors such as Bass Pro, Burlington Coat Factory and Dillard’s, McConnell and Orsi-Faircloth plan to work to attract more unique and diverse tenants to the mall.
“Can Savannah support two malls? Absolutely,” Orsi-Faircloth said. “What Savannah can’t support is two malls that are duplicates of one another.”
With a current occupancy rate of 73 percent, Savannah Mall is home to the requisite national retailers found in most malls but also boasts a growing number of locally owned businesses, among them Savannah Piano, LiveOak Orchids, Signature Furniture, Rene’s Boutique and Fitness Emporium.
It’s also the Savannah location for Virginia College, which offers a variety of classes in areas such as cosmetology, medical billing, culinary arts, business, health care and more.
The Savannah Mall has a number of options for children, among them a soft play area and Coach Wayne Gymnastics, which offers tumbling and gymnastics classes and an open gym.
“It’s important to retain the unique stores we have and we feel really good about that, Orsi-Faircloth said.
“Mr. Dillard was here recently and made a commitment to keep the store open, as has Bass Pro.”
Specialty leasing also helps draw unique tenants, she said.
“Temporary in-line leasing, which allows retailers to lease an empty storefront for a shorter period of time, is a great way for smaller businesses to get off the ground and hopefully turn into permanent tenants,” she said.
Already, the team of McConnell and Orsi-Faircloth is beginning to see results. While sales were up 2 percent in 2012, January’s numbers were up 6 percent from the same month last year.
Solid leadership
Both McConnell and Faircloth have been in the Savannah market for more than 20 years.
McConnell has more than 37 years of experience in the shopping center industry, working for 10 different developers in 10 different states. He is a graduate of Mississippi State University with a degree in political science and also received a Certified Shopping Center Manager credential from the International Council of Shopping Centers.
Orsi-Faircloth has more than 28 years of experience with eight developers in four states. She holds a bachelor’s degree in public relations and broadcasting from Mississippi University for Women.
“We’ve been in this market a while,” McConnell said. “We know what we need to do to bring people out here.”
The keys to meeting that challenge are diversity and outreach, he said.
“We’re striving for a mix that’s not necessarily traditional,” Orsi-Faircloth said.
Among their new strategies is a focus on social media to reach out to the college students in the area.
“We have Armstrong Atlantic State across the street, and we need to make sure we are offering what they want,” Orsi-Faircloth said.
Another important focus: the military market.
“We are so fortunate to have a military presence in Savannah,” she said. “We want to sponsor events just for them — both here at the mall and on base.”
ABOUT URBAN RETAIL
Headquartered in Chicago, Urban Retail Properties LLC is one of the nation’s leading third-party real estate management firms, specializing in regional malls, community centers and big-box portfolios. Urban currently manages a diverse portfolio with more than 80 properties in 29 states and has developed a multitude of world-class shopping centers, including Water Tower Place, 900 North Michigan Shops in Chicago and Copley Place in Boston. For more information, go to www.urbanretail.com.
IF YOU GO
The Savannah Mall will unveil its double-decker carousel with a ribbon-cutting at 11 a.m. Friday in the food court.