Allen Smith, general manager of the Rhode Island Mall, has heard the pessimists, the ones who predict that once Providence Place Mall is up and running, Rhode Island Mall will become an afterthought, and perhaps, even cease to exist. In truth, Providence Place Mall hasn’t been the only grist for the mill among the pessimists.
Rhode Island Mall’s biggest competitor, the nearby Warwick Mall, pumped millions of dollars into renovation efforts. And just over a year ago, Filene’s — one of Rhode Island Mall’s anchors — closed. At the same time, Filene’s expanded its store at Warwick Mall and signed on as one of the anchors at Providence Place Mall.
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The naysayers were out in force.
But a funny thing has been happening. As Providence Place Mall rises — altering the landscape of the capital city — Smith has been busy. He’s been blocking out the pessimists. He’s been tending to the business at hand.
And the truth is, 1998 is shaping up to be a pretty good year for Rhode Island Mall.
Earlier this month, the New Jersey-based Toys “R” Us announced that it would be undergoing some serious restructuring. Dozens of stores would be closed. The naysayers started whispering. Surely, they assumed, the Toys “R” Us located across the parking lot from Rhode Island Mall would be closing — providing another nail for the coffin.
But Toys “R” Us officials aren’t closing the Warwick store, or any others in this region. Most of the toy stores being closed are in Europe. In fact, the Warwick Toys “R” Us is one of a handful of models that has been converted to a new high-tech design.
Smith is thrilled that Toys “R” Us is on solid ground. While it is not physically connected to the mall, it delivers shoppers there consistently, Smith said. In fact, he said, the mall’s Kids’ Treehouse, with its comfortable chairs for parents and slides and climbing toys for the kids, has become a popular destination. Smith is convinced that many parents couple a trip to Toys “R” Us with a visit to the indoor playground.
“Toys “R” Us has done very well,” said Smith. “And the customers who shop at Toys “R” Us will typically shop with us.”
In September, Rhode Island Mall welcomed an unusual, new draw. The state Department of Motor Vehicles opened a “Registry Express,” which is open Tuesdays through Fridays from noon to 8 p.m. and Saturdays from noon to 5 p.m.
To date, Smith said, it’s been a hit.
“There are far more people coming here than we had anticipated,” Smith said. “It’s working out very well.”
Smith said that some mall tenants located near the Registry have reported a jump in sales of between 10 and 20 percent since it opened.
Kathy Irey, an assistant manager at Things Remembered, a gift and engraving store that has been in the Rhode Island Mall for 23 years, isn’t sure about the impact of the Registry, but one thing is for sure: Business has boomed in 1998.
“We’ve had one of the best years we have ever had,” Irey said.
Irey added that she has seen several customers stop into the store while waiting for their number to be called at the Registry. She thinks more of an impact may be felt during the holidays.
“People will remember at Christmas that they saw that little store when they were getting their license,” she said.
Linda Cotter, of Cranston, isn’t worried about the future of Rhode Island Mall. She visits on occasion, as she does Warwick Mall. And she expects to visit Providence Place Mall when it opens.
“Sure, I intend to shop there,” Cotter said.
But that doesn’t mean she will abandon the malls in Warwick. In fact, she said, Sears and Cherry & Webb will keep her coming back to Rhode Island Mall. As for the Registry, Cotter figures that can’t hurt business.
“I think it’s a wonderful idea,” she said. “Whether it draws people to the mall, I don’t know. But it is convenient.”
Rhode Island Mall seems to be having fun with the fact that Providence Place Mall is being billed as an upscale alternative for Rhode Islanders. Promotional signs at Rhode Island Mall poke fun at the concept high-end retail, trumpeting Rhode Island Mall as “More Your Style.”
Smith said that in January, a replacement for the vacant Filene’s anchor should be on board.
“Things are progressing,” he said. “We do have someone.”
That’s as specific as he would get. But the word is, the replacement for Filene’s will attract “working class” Rhode Islanders.
When pressed for more details, Smith doesn’t budge. But he sounds confident that replacing Filene’s will secure the mall’s future.
Maybe he’s right. Rhode Islanders do get used to things. And they are known to be a loyal bunch.
Urban Ansaldi, of Warwick, isn’t much of a shopper. He visited Rhode Island Mall on a recent Friday because he had business to do at the Registry.
When he does have to shop, it’s likely he will continue to frequent the malls in Warwick, which are so close to home. Word like “upscale” and “high-end” don’t impress Ansaldi.
“Sears is a good store,” he said. “As long as they have that anchor here”
That’s the kind of attitude on which Smith is counting. Let the pessimists go upscale.
