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Christy Swisher, general manager for the Grand Central Mall speaks to Rotary |
PARKERSBURG - The Grand Central Mall continues to be an intricate part of the local landscape in retail
business and community involvement, the mall's manager told the Parkersburg Rotary Club Monday. | Christy Swisher, the general manager for the Grand Central Mall, was the featured speaker at Monday's Parkersburg Rotary Club meeting at the Blennerhassett Hotel. ''The Grand Central Mall has been intregical part of the Mid-Ohio Valley for over three decades,'' she said. ''In 1970, a group of developers envisioned the first regional enclosed mall on an undeveloped site on Grand Central Avenue that was the site of the old Stewart Airport. ''Because of their foresight, Grand Central Avenue has grown and developed into one of the most highly traveled thoroughfares in West Virginia. It now averages about 45,000 to 50,000 cars a day.'' The mall opened August 1972 and encompassed 800,000 square feet with three anchor stores, two of which are still there today, and 80 small shops and retailers. The mall has undergone additional renovation and expansion over the years which added the Proffitt's (Belk) Department Store, the Regal Cinemas and a 500-seat food court in 1997. ''The Grand Central Mall is one of the larger employers in the area,'' Swisher said. ''With all the stores involved, we employ around 2,500.'' The Grand Central Mall is the only regional mall in a 77-mile radius. ''Our core shopper that comes to Grand Central Mall comes from eight counties in West Virginia and seven counties in Ohio,'' Swisher said. ''Because of the area, we have a huge draw. Year after year, the retailers continue to see an increase in their sales.'' With all the development going on in the area, the mall continues to bring in businesses the area wants. ''We certainly respect that and appreciate that,'' Swisher said. ''Competition is a good thing.'' Within the past couple of years they have opened The Buckle, Journeys, a new expanded Bath and Body Works, Victoria's Secret and Maurice's as well as the Mid-Ohio Valley Medical Group, a Border's book store, a Panera Bread and a number of other stores. There are more plans for development on the outside of the mall's property with a number of parcels available. The mall itself is running at 98.9 percent occupancy, Swisher said, adding she didn't have any announcements at this time of any businesses signed up to come to the mall's property anytime soon. She said officials from Target are interest in setting up a store in the Mid-Ohio Valley. However, the mall currently doesn't have the available space to accommodate such an operation. The mall continue to give back to the community as a Partner in Education with Neale School as well as the annual Magical Night of Giving around Christmas, which raised $35,000 for area nonprofits, the License to Shop program, which has raised $18,000-$20,000 for area nonprofits and the Earning For Learning program, which donates $20,000 to an area school based on shoppers' support of their local schools. ''As a community partner, one of the things we feel very strongly about is giving back to the community,'' Swisher said. The Grand Central Mall is more than just a shopping venue, the community uses it as a community center for numerous events throughout the year and people regularly use the facility for exercise and relaxation. ''The Mid-Ohio Valley is the best of both worlds,'' Swisher said. ''This is an area where the community still cares about its neighbors. ''The Grand Central Mall is extremely happy to be a part of this community.''
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