Tag: Grand Opening

Dual Celebration at Governor’s Square Mall

Posted on | by Joe Bell

 

Governor’s Square Mall Grand Reopening & Veteran’s Day Celebration Draws Hundreds in Clarksville

 

ByMark Haynes

Tuesday, November 12, 2024

 

Governor’s Square Mall Grand Reopening Ribbon Cutting. (Mark Haynes, Clarksville Online)

Clarksville, TN – Governor’s Square Mall in Clarksville marked a special dual celebration on Saturday, November 9th, 2024, with hundreds of locals turning out to commemorate the mall’s grand reopening alongside a vibrant Veterans Day celebration.

From 11:00am to 2:00pm, the mall buzzed with energy as visitors enjoyed festivities, free treats, and a first look at the mall’s impressive new renovations.

Kicking off with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, the event was briefly graced with a light rain sprinkle, adding charm to the grand reopening. After the ribbon was cut, attendees moved inside to discover a lively array of activities, from photo booths and celebrity look-alikes to an array of entertainment options spread across the newly revamped space.

“We’re excited about today. This is the kickoff of a grand reopening of Governors Square Mall here in Clarksville. We’re doing a celebration to kick off the holiday season as well as to celebrate Veterans Day,” said Anthony Cafaro Jr., Cafaro Company Co-President. “Everything you see inside and outside the mall is new. We’ve transformed the mall from the floors to the ceiling. We think that people are going to enjoy the fresh, modern environment.”

“I want to say thank you to the Cafaro Company for their investment in our community. We want to say thank you to Governor Square Mall for being a member investor in the Clarksville Chamber. We have a saying in the chamber that we’re stronger together. Thank you for helping us be strong, and thank you to the community,” said Brian Zacharias, Clarksville City Council.

The mall’s recent renovations brought a fresh look, including sleek new lighting, updated flooring, and state-of-the-art equipment. Mall-goers were also excited to learn about new attractions on the horizon: the much-anticipated Dave & Buster’s will open on November 25th, and a brand-new Phoenix Theaters complex is set to debut in May 2025, promising a first-rate entertainment experience for Clarksville residents.

“I think this is absolutely great. It’s just another indication of how well Clarksville-Montgomery County is doing. The growth in our businesses and the revitalization of the Governor Square Mall is just a plus,” Mike Rainey, Clarksville-Area Chamber of Commerce Chair, stated.

“You gotta see it to believe it. But this is really something that’s a major reinvestment in the community,” Jordan G. Hohman, Vice President of Project Development for Phoenix Theatres, commented. “We have a big project ahead of us that people are going to enjoy. I think what it does is bring the movie theater to the kind of standard that you expect looking at the rest of this mall. It really brings it into a modern era.”

Food vendors inside the mall’s main entrance joined in the festivities by handing out free samples that delighted attendees. Favorites included fresh cookies from Great American Cookies, savory pretzel bites from Auntie Anne’s, and flavorful chicken gyros from Same’s Greek Cafe. Other vendors like Chopsticks Japan, Subway, China Wok, Gini’s Java, and Cinnabon kept the crowd energized with offerings from egg rolls to turkey wraps, ensuring there was something for everyone.

“I’ve been here since 1989, and this is the biggest and best get-together I’ve seen here in the City of Clarksville. Thank you all,” commented Robert Swearingen.

“The renovated new look just brings a new vibe to the mall. It is just another recommitment to the community that we wanted to celebrate with everybody. We are super excited that there are other deals in the works. There are a lot more bigger businesses and better things looking to move towards Governor’s Square Mall,” Governor’s Square Mall Marketing Director Thomas Locke stated.

Shoppers and veterans alike expressed excitement over the revitalized mall and the day’s festivities. Governor’s Square Mall’s grand reopening was more than a celebration of a transformed shopping destination; it was a community event, bringing people together in appreciation of local veterans and in anticipation of a new era for one of Clarksville’s cherished gathering places.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Boscov’s kicks off Grand Opening for first store in West Virginia

Posted on | by Joe Bell

 

Boscov’s kicks off West Virginia grand opening celebration with Charity Day shopping as thousands flock to see new store in Bridgeport’s Meadowbrook Mall

  • by Charles Young SENIOR STAFF WRITER THE EXPONENT TELEGRAM

 

BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. (WV News) — The line to get into the Boscov’s location at Meadowbrook Mall on Thursday stretched down the sidewalk in both directions, filled with hundreds of shoppers eagerly waiting to be among the first inside the area’s newest department store.

Each of those in attendance paid $5 for a shopping pass that allowed them to participate in the store’s Charity Day. All the proceeds from the sale of the passes will benefit 175 local nonprofits.

“I’m absolutely thrilled,” said Jim Boscov, chairman and CEO of Boscov’s. “Certainly, it’s great to have a store full of people, but this is Charity Day. These are people who donated $5 to their favorite charity.”

Boscov had a very busy morning, which included greeting customers as they lined up outside and making periodic announcements over the store’s intercom system.

“People who have never seen us before are saying, ‘Wow, you guys really have everything.’ It’s a big store,” he said. “As busy as we are, we have about 220 co-workers that we’ve hired right from the area, plus we have another 150 that we’ve asked to come down from our other stores to help out. We’ve got lots of people to offer service.”

Wendy Imperial, a Bridgeport resident, said she’s been anticipating the opening of Boscov’s for several months.

“I walk every morning up here at the mall, so I’ve been watching the progress of stores moving and then this being built. I’m just thrilled that the day is finally here,” she said.

Imperial said she’s glad the mall was able to secure another anchor retailer after years of seeing stores move or relocate.

“So many times you see malls that are becoming obsolete. It’s so sad to see that square footage get emptied,” she said. “This is going to be an absolute boost in the arm of our community. All of the surrounding retailers are going to benefit from it. And we’re just thrilled that they chose this mall to come to and open a new store.”

Imperial used Boscov’s Charity Day to get a jump on her holiday shopping.

“I looked for some of the ‘door buster’ deals — I got some flashlights that I was looking for and then saw these that were on sale,” she said, holding up a decorative throw blanket. “I’m heading to women’s clothes to look at some things there that I’ve seen through the window as I’ve been walking.”

Harley Jeffries, a Bridgeport resident, said he’d also heard a lot about the Boscov’s opening.

“We’d been hearing about it for a while. It’s been underway and under construction. We’re always anxious — we’re a bunch of lookie-loos — to come see what’s what and what’s going on with the store and what all they have,” Jeffries said.

Thursday’s events kicked off Boscov’s Three-Day Grand Opening Celebration.

Friday will be Family Fun Day, featuring free family activities and entertainment. It will be the first opportunity for members of the public who didn’t purchase a Charity Day pass to shop in the store.

On Saturday, starting at 9:30 a.m., the Bridgeport High School marching band will kick off a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Brad Riffee, executive director of the United Way of Harrison and Doddridge Counties, and representatives of United Way member agencies will cut a special ribbon made of $100 bills for the agencies, plus a $1,000 bill for the United Way itself.

Saturday shoppers also can take in performances by Elvis Aaron Presley Jr., and Jason Lindsey, aka “Mr. Science.”

Senior Staff Writer Charles Young can be reached at 304-626-1447 or cyoung@theet.com