New shopping center opens for business

CENTENNIAL - It's hard to imagine that the old SouthGlenn mall once stood at the junction of University Boulevard and Arapahoe Road, when you see the new shopping center that has taken its place.

The dilapidated mall, which closed for good in 2006, was demolished to make way for The Streets at SouthGlenn. The $310 million development opened Friday morning at 9 a.m. with a ribbon cutting.

The new 77-acre mall includes 1.2 million square feet of retail space, 140 offices, and 202 luxury apartments, all surrounding a park and fountain centerpiece. The only remnants from the old shopping center are the Sears and Macy's stores, both of which were renovated as part of the project.

"You can't image that this was a covered mall here at one point. It's totally different," Centennial Mayor Randy Pye said.

The original mall, which was constructed in 1974, was beloved by neighbors.

"We liked the old Southglenn Mall because it was so handy and close for us," Rakel Dahlberg said. She only lives a few blocks away.

Over the years, however, the mall lost its luster. Eventually city officials decided to redevelop the land.

"It was sort of a mourning experience when we tore it down, but I think we've gotten over it. We're excited now," Pye said.

"We felt kind of sad that it disappeared, but I think this morning we're seeing it's going to be ok again," Dahlberg added.

While a number stores and restaurants were ready for the grand opening, several more will open over the next 4 months, according to Bryan McFarland with Alberta Development who oversaw the redevelopment project. He says the mall's theater will open in November, followed by other attractions.

"It will only get better over the next one or two years," said McFarland.

The recession has forced developers to shelve most projects like this, but Alberta Development decided to continue on. The mall may be opening, but the affect of the economy is evident.

"One of the impacts of the recession is that these national retailers have stayed on the sidelines in 2009. They've pulled all of their store development off the schedule this year," McFarland said.

That forced The Streets at SouthGlenn to recruit smaller retailers. McFarland says they were able to entice shops from Denver's Highlands neighborhood, Gaylord Street shops, Cherry Creek North and downtown Littleton to open locations at the mall.

The grand opening celebration continues through the weekend with live music, entertainment and sales at the mall's stores. For more information, CLICK HERE.