Bringing in business: With more new stores and restaurants, Independence Mall gets new life

It’s a Monday afternoon at Independence Mall and the food court is bustling. Filled with families, groups of teenagers, elderly couples and just about everyone in between, the mall is undeniably busy.

Since Brookfield Properties’ acquisition of the Independence Mall in 2017, the space has been renovated and continues to expand. General manager of the mall, Helen Lewis, welcomes the redevelopment.

“This refresh to the property showcases Brookfield Properties’ commitment to investing in our centers, as well as the communities in which they operate,” Lewis said via email.

Many popular restaurants, including Dave’s Hot Chicken and First Watch, have taken up residence in outparcels on the property.

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Chief People Officer of First Watch restaurants in the Wilmington area, Mike White, says that being located near the mall has increased traffic.

Lewis said that while she can’t comment on the details of the mall’s financials, Brookfield Properties is “very proud to have Independence Mall in our portfolio of properties.”

She said that Walk-On's Sports Bistreaux, which opened in July 2021, has been popular with mall guests, particularly during major sporting events. Outparcel restaurants are growing their customer bases, while many stores located along the mall’s streetscape area are still popular.

Lewis said the addition of outparcel restaurants has drawn more visitors into the rest of the mall complex.

“Our hope is that by bringing in new-to-market restaurants as well as familiar favorites, our guests will want to spend more time at the center. We’re confident that we’ve done that,” she said.

Lewis said the mall sees an influx of traffic around the holidays, but that there is “healthy traffic throughout the year.”

White said that business at First Watch locations in the area has been steadily improving since the COVID-19 pandemic. He added that locations with close proximity to malls typically see an increase in traffic around back-to-school season.

Independence Mall is the only indoor mall in Wilmington. The two closest indoor malls are in Jacksonville and Myrtle Beach.

Lewis could not comment on the turnover rate of stores in the mall. Per corporate policy, Brookfield Properties does not comment on occupancy.

But she said the mall has been recovering from labor shortages in recent months.

“While we can’t speak for our tenants, it’s no secret that this is a challenge currently facing a number of businesses across the country. Through general conversations with our retail partners, we’re experiencing an improvement over the past few months,” she said.

White said that First Watch, like numerous restaurants across the country, has faced labor shortages and supply chain disruptions in recent months.

New development continues to happen at the mall.

Construction is currently underway at Reeds Jewelers, which is currently renovating its store. Wilmington’s first Pei Wei Asian Express, a chain formerly owned by P.F. Chang’s Asian Bistro, is expected to open in the coming months.

This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Independence Mall new businesses, Dave's Hot Chicken, First Watch