Fashion Square Mall hosts a fall festival with new updates

SAGINAW, Mich. (WNEM) – Living in our post-pandemic world, with online shopping at our fingertips, malls everywhere are struggling.

In Saginaw, the Fashion Square Mall has been open for more than 50 years, but by the empty storefronts, they’ve seen many businesses come and go, which means they’ve had to find new ways to bring people in.

“I think that, you know, the future of malls are evolving, and I think that it’s more about the entertainment. It’s about community,” said Jessie Martinez – General Manager, Fashion Square Mall

Such as hosting a fall festival in the Fashion Square mall.

“With this mall in general. You know, we have seen a little bit of a decline, and when we do these events, they’ve gotten bigger and bigger every time we’ve done them,” said Mackenzie Furlo, a DJ at 106.3.

General Manager Jesse Martinez says they’re working hard to fill these empty spaces. Just last month, the mall welcomed back Rue21 and come November, Detroit lemon squeeze will join the food court.

“It’s bringing people together and then he’s also got Detroit eatery that will be opening in the food court beginning of December,” said Martinez. “We also have Progressive Dynamics. They are launching a space for people to come and train for softball and baseball. They’ll have batting cages, golf simulators and things like that. “

I asked families here at the mall’s Fall Fest what they miss most about Fashion Square, and what they’d like to see

“More stores back like it used to be in the 90s,” said Jason Emery of Caro. “Because I used to come here all the time when I was a teenager.”

“More stores open up,” said Krystal of Saginaw. “Then the food court having more options in the food court and in the play place, they don’t have the play place for the kids, so I do miss that for him and the little ones to come and play.”

“I really want to see, see it come back to what it used to be,” said Martinez. “I remember coming to this mall and there being just crowds of people and like the hustle and bustle, especially during holidays. So, for me coming here, that’s kind of what I want to bring to it. We have a great team, a lot of people that really care. I think the community really wants us and we’re hoping to bring that back.”

Subscribe to the TV5 newsletter and receive the latest local news and weather straight to your email every day.

Copyright 2024 WNEM. All rights reserved.