Big things happening at Valdosta Mall

Kids playground, toy store scheduled to open Oct. 15

By Boyana Peeva

VALDOSTA — Valdosta Mall is progressing quickly thanks to the Internet and fresh ideas.

Many changes occurred at the mall, and many are about to happen in order to attract people of all ages. The newest addition the management is working on is a kids playground. It will become ready and open to the public on Oct. 15.

According to Enid Santana, marketing/specialty leasing manager, the playground is a great addition to the mall and the community because it provides an indoor playground.

“Young kids and their parents, who don’t want to necessarily have their kids out in the sun, have an alternative,” she said.

The management has been discussing the necessity of an attraction like this for a while now, and when they found out that a mall in Massachusetts has a playground that is not in use, they immediately requested to bring it here.

She noted that a lot of stay-at-home moms have been looking for a place to go with their kids and get out of their homes for a little, so the mall delivered. Another goal the shopping center has is to make people feel comfortable to just be there. Thus, the mall now has Wi-Fi.

“We are catching up with technology,” Santana said. “We are looking forward to see people with their laptops here and with their smart phones, having a good time, coming up and getting a cup of coffee and just sit and do homework, so they can get out of the dorm room, like the college kids.”

They have moved some of the tables farther from the food court to provide more secluded places for people who go there with their laptops and need privacy.

In addition, the mall recently started taking advantage of Facebook and Twitter and uses them to interact with the community and to announce upcoming events and deals.

“Facebook and Twitter allow us to do free advertising for our stores,” explained Santana. “If a store has a new markdown, we are going to be posting it online, as well as daily deals. It’s an instant thing.”

She added that people have been asking for a toy store and that time has finally come. Oct. 15 will be a big day for the mall because, in addition to opening the playground to the public, on that day a new toy store will open as well.

Since the mall is focused on a family-friendly atmosphere, they are preparing the space next to Victoria’s Secret to be a store where customers can find toys and hobbies they can do with their children.

“There will be things kids can do with their parents,” Santana said. “It’s not necessarily a toy a kid can get and go play by himself. It’s going to be more interactive with the parents.”

As far as recent changes, the mall just got a vending machine where one can get Proactive products. Also, the Halloween store has opened already with its huge variety of Halloween costumes. This year, a costume fashion show will take place again. According to Santana, the community loved it last year, and it’s expected to be even bigger this time.

The Envy store is expanding, while Chick-Fil-A just started a “buy one combo, get one free” special for college students who need to just show their student ID in order to qualify.

“All the changes that are happening — we are listening to what the community says,” Santana noted. “Our job is to go find these vendors. It’s our job to try to get everything.”

The new management team, according to Santana, has a “fresh eye” on things and are eager to try something new.

Being the only mall in the surrounding area is helping Valdosta Mall to avoid many problems the economy is causing to other businesses. Some of the store managers, according to her, are doing a great job as well.

“Valdosta is a very interesting little community that seems to really support itself and take care of its own,” Santana said.

To find out more about Valdosta Mall and follow the newest deals and events, visit www.shopvaldostamall.com or visit their pages on Facebook and Twitter.