INDIANAPOLIS — Traffic at traditional malls across the country has been steadily declining for years, even before the pandemic, with tenants including major anchor stores closing their doors and widening gaps in mall occupancy. remain.

According to Forbes’ outlook on the future of malls, journalist Brin Snelling wrote that malls are on the cusp of reform, but that doesn’t mean shoppers haven’t found their purpose yet. The real estate strategist believes shoppers will still need to go to malls, but writes that malls “need to continue to adapt to keep young shoppers interested.”

For example, some malls have recently worked to evolve and secure occupancy of essentials like grocers and tech companies to keep up with younger generations.

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While some malls have seen a decline in shoppers, a spokesperson for Simon Property Group’s Keystone fashion mall said it had seen only growth in recent years.

“We continue to see shoppers coming back. They want to touch, try and buy. They want to feel, they want to see and they want to experience shopping firsthand. It’s just been going up for a few years. So we’re looking at it from a restaurant perspective and a retail perspective.

WRTV Photo: Shakkira Harris

Fashion Mall, a shopping center known for housing high-end and high-end brands, has added several new tenants in the east and west wings as well as a ‘fashion cafe’ over the past six months.

At the mall’s cafes, shoppers can find HoiTEA ToiTEA and Hard Truth Bar open. Sweetgreen will also be on the cafe’s menu in the coming weeks.

Hard Truth’s parent company, Big Woods, also plans to open a restaurant in the cafe in the next few weeks next to Shake Shack, which first opened in The Fashion Mall last year. Another future dining option foodies are looking forward to is Doc B’s Restaurant and Bar.

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Recently opened shopping options include Levi’s, Nike, Gucci and Hammitt by Purse Strings. L’Occitane will open in the next few weeks, and Evereve will open later this year.

“We’re really elevating these kinds of experiences and would love to see a demographic offering here in Indianapolis, Indiana,” Parker said. There is no other experience.”

Parker said The Fashion Mall has thrived by continuing what it has done since it first opened.

“The Fashion Mall’s goal is to remain the premier luxury shopping destination in Indiana. It’s about continuing to enhance and bring the variety of retail experiences, as well as new experiences to buildings and restaurants,” Parker said.

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WRTV Digital Reporter Shakkira Harris can be reached at shakkira.harris@wrtv.com. You can follow her on her Twitter @shakkirasays.