Nittany Mall area undergoing development

By BETH LUCAS
Collegian Staff Writer

COLLEGE TOWNSHIP -- A Kaufmann's store will open in the Nittany Mall on St. Patrick's Day, the latest signal of growth in the mall's area.

"(Kaufmann's) will … add to the customer base and offer one more shopping opportunity," said Jennifer Dowling, Nittany Mall marketing director.

As Value City Department Store vacated at the end of its lease, its smaller building was torn down to build the 95,000-square foot, one-story site for Kaufmann's.

Since October, eight other new stores were added to the mall, including Gymboree, GAP Kids, Footlocker, Braun's Fashions, General Nutrition Center, American Eagle Outfitters, Gadzooks and Trade Secret.

"I'm pretty fired up because they're getting some new quality stores," Ben Kephart (freshman-secondary education) said.

Construction at the mall is contained to the Kaufmann's area, Dowling said, adding that an additional entrance, red light on state Route 26 and parking lot have made the mall even more accessible during the alterations.

Just down Benner Pike, the still-under-construction Nittany Commons shopping center is also welcoming its new tenants.

"We generally look for an area that is growing, has smaller businesses -- up-and-coming areas," said Steve Baisden, OfficeMax Inc. investor relations specialist. OfficeMax opened its doors in the shopping center October 1998 for this reason.

At the present time, there are two spaces available in the mall and businesses are vying for the spots, Dowling said, although she could not specify which businesses.

"We are 96 percent filled, which is astronomical," she said. Nationally, she said malls are an average of 72 percent leased.

There is already a Kaufmann's in Altoona, but management does not foresee the two stores competing.

"I don't think (the State College Kaufmann's) will hurt our business in any way," said Marcia Loner, human resources manager of Kaufmann's at the Logan Valley Mall in Altoona. "Now that there are more Kaufmann's, we are now able to service more of (Centre County) and reach more areas."

• CATA changes routes around Nittany Mall