LYNNWOOD — The line outside Alderwood mall’s new LEGO store began forming at 2 a.m. June 23.
The company was giving away exclusive products – T-shirts, a limited edition LEGO set and a mini-figure set – to the first 35 customers at the three-day grand opening event at Alderwood mall.
In addition to the giveaways, visitors were invited to help a specially trained LEGO master builder construct an 8-foot-tall sculpture of Yoda, a character from “Star Wars.”
Mary Porter and her great-grandson Tristan came all the way from Poulsbo on June 23 to visit the store.
Tristan, 10, wants to do LEGO engineering when he grows up, Porter said.
She also met with her grandson Shawn, who lives in Mukilteo, and his kids, 9-year-old Quinton and 6-year-old Alexandra.
“This is quite an outing,” Porter said.
The family was among hundreds who turned up for the opening weekend, with some people making an even longer trip than Porter.
Children and adults – including an 80-year-old woman – put together blocks of bricks and gave them to the LEGO master builder, who built the Yoda sculpture.
“I built seven blocks,” 8-year-old Preston Brownlee said with a smile.
The LEGO store opening is one of many changes at Alderwood mall in the past year.
Empty storefronts have created big opportunities.
“At first with the empty stores, I think it shows hard times; times that reflect the recession,” said Alderwood mall shopper Allie Moses. “Then you hear about the stores coming in and I think it shows a new beginning.”
Over the past few months, 11 stores at the shopping center have closed their doors, including trend jewelry store For Love 21, children’s clothing store Pumpkin Patch and Kay Jewelers. The reasons vary. Mia and Maxx hair studio closed and employees moved to the parent company, Regis Salon, within Alderwood.
“With stores closing, Alderwood mall is given an opportunity to improve the customer’s shopping experiences, rounding out the better options to meet the wants of the customers and to further establish what kind of mall they want Alderwood to be,” American Eagle employee Sokita Bour said.
At least six other businesses at the shopping center have simply shifted locations. Hat store Lids, special occasion store Papyrus, The Body Shop, Soma Intimates, women’s fashion stores Etiquette and Forever 21 have switched locations inside the mall. Lids and Forever 21 switched locations to gain square footage. These numbers are always changing.
But when a business wants to open a store at Alderwood mall or change locations inside the shopping center, they negotiate a lease with leasing representative Katie Perkins.
There is a long list of stores waiting to move into Alderwood mall. Perkins uses this list to help satisfy consumer needs and keep up with retail trends. Several spots also remain under negotiation at the shopping center. It can take up to a year to complete the leasing process.
When a lease does expire, a company discusses with Perkins what is best for the retailer and the property at the mall. Before resigning or signing a new lease, a store can negotiate a leasing deal that can be paid at a flat price or have increases over a period of time. The leases can last anywhere from a few months to 30 years.
“It can create a positive result because it gives stores an opportunity to open at Alderwood mall,” Perkins said.
She also said it gives the mall a chance to meet the consumer’s evolving wants and needs by introducing new concepts and retail trends in the Seattle area.
Alderwood mall marketing manager Carol Hildahl explained that planning the location of a new store involves a lot of strategy and time.
Several new businesses confirmed their leases and began construction in February. Customers can expect to see Brighton Collectibles jewelry and handbags, Bare Escentuals makeup, and alternative furniture store LoveSac by the beginning of the holiday season.
Woman’s fashion store H&M announced June 25 that it would open a store in Alderwood this fall.
Along with Lego, Pandora, which is owned and operated by Ben Bridge Jeweler, recently opened its jewelry store.* Women’s fashion store Maurices and educational toy store IQ Play (renamed from Learning Quest Toys) have also opened recently.
“Lego will help drive customers in, especially with it being so close to American Girl,” said American Eagle Outfitters store manager Cathy Thornes. “A parent can have their little girl go to American Girl and the little boy can go to Lego. It works perfectly.”
Hildahl also agreed that American Girl did strengthen Alderwood mall’s visitor base even though children’s stores such as Stride Rite and Pumpkin Patch have closed.
Other stores, such as Ben Bridge Jeweler, Yankee Candle Co., Helzberg Diamonds, shoe store Vans and women’s accessory chain Claire’s have started to remodel and expand their stores at the mall. Customers can expect Ben Bridge Jeweler, Helzberg Diamonds and Claire’s to finish remodeling by late summer. Yankee Candle Co. and Vans have already completed their remodeling.
Retail locations are not the only thing changing at Alderwood mall. Officials have made moves to update the food court. “The food court needs to be consistent with the quality of the center,” Hildahl said. All new furnishings have already been installed.
*Correction, July 2, 2012: This article originally said Pandora was an offshoot of Ben Bridge Jeweler.
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