Kmart has been a key traffic generator for all the businesses on level 2 at Forest Hill Chase for 18 years. It’s closure on Jan. 31 has delivered an immediate drop in traffic past our door. It is too early to assess the sales impact. It will be at least 9 months before a new Target opens.
We knew the Kmart closure was coming but have felt somewhat paralysed as to what to do in advance. Only time will reveal the impact. In the meantime, it is driving us to work harder on the business, ensuring that our offering is the best it can be and that we’re driving good word of mouth.
Mark, I am sorry to hear this. There is little worse for a shopping centre and its smaller businesses than to lose one of its anchor tenants, but this is especially an anchor that had been there for 18 years and in such a habit-driven centre like Forest Hill Chase!
I sincerely hope your business is able to build on its strengths in the coming months and by the time Target opens, will be able to thrive on the new foot-traffic.
Philip.
Thanks Phillip. At least it is only short term. We will know more about the impact in the next month. In the meantime we’re promoting the hell out of the business outside the centre to keep traffic string.