If you’re looking for proof that the economy has rebounded, look no further than the Shoppes at Arbor Lakes.
Just when you think they have every store imaginable, another one pops up. In fact, seven have opened just this year, including Punch Pizza, Forever 21 and Cost Plus World Market.
The mall’s latest tenant vying for consumer attention is Vom Fass. Open since last Thursday, the specialty shop sells culinary oils, cask-aged vinegars and spirits imported from European farms and vineyards.
“We have one of a kind products,” said Vom Fass owner George Mayaka. “The spirits are one of a kind. You will not find them in any store except Vom Fass.”
Jennie Zafft, marketing director for the Shoppes at Arbor Lakes, says the area’s mix of specialty shops and chain stores draws consumers from near and far.
“We’ve seen so many people come in from Canada,” said Zafft. “We also get a lot of folks from Fargo.”
But with so much competition in the area, store owners must be creative in how they attract those customers. Mayaka says his store’s draw is not just in the products but also in the experience.
“You can taste anything in the store,” he said. “It’s a taste before you buy concept. We have 22-year-old whiskey, we have 50-year-old Cognacs, 25-year-old Cognacs that people are surprised they can actually come in and taste.”
Whether that approach is successful or not has yet to be seen. But Mayaka is optimistic that his store will be a part of the Shoppes’ continued success.
By the end of 2014, two more stores are set to open, including a men’s salon and a lingerie shop. Victoria’s Secret is moving from its current location to a bigger store. And just one store, Coldwater Creek, is closing. The national chain recently filed bankruptcy.
Cassie Bonstrom
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Channel 12 is on Comcast cable in the northwest suburbs of Minneapolis and includes the cities Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn Park, Crystal, Golden Valley, Maple Grove, New Hope, Osseo, Plymouth and Robbinsdale.
