Reversing the trend: Business is booming at the Laurel Mall in Hazle Township

HAZLE TWP. — Despite competition from the Wyoming Valley Mall and the Shoppes at Montage in Luzerne County, as well as the Schuylkill Mall in Schyulkill County and the Columbia Mall in Columbia County, the Laurel Mall is booming.

Wednesday marked one year since the team of Lisa Arruzzo, general manager, and Rocco Arruzzo, business operations and marketing manager, were hired by management company Lexington Realty International to manage the lower Luzerne County Mall.

“We are in tune with the market area,” Rocco said, noting he and Lisa work with tenants and businesses and aren’t afraid to travel to other potential tenants.

Since the Arruzzos have taken over, a dozen stores have located in the mall and, over the next several months, five new businesses will open. Rocco said the mall has a 97 percent fill rate as there are two vacancies but come Oct. 1, there will only be one because one store opens specifically for the Christmas holiday.

The Arruzzo team has created a new kiddie zone for the youngsters, added seating areas throughout the mall, offers free Wi-Fi and is in the process of installing phone charging stations for patrons.

“Construction is going on,” Rocco admitted but said it’s for good reason: TJ Maxx is bringing a 21,500 square-foot store as a new anchor and Seattle Style Coffee is moving locations. It takes the Arruzzos between 30 to 90 days to work out the logistics of moving stores.

Kim Gormley, store manager for Boscov’s Hazleton, an anchor tenant in the mall, said it’s been a good year for her store, the largest tenant in the mall.

“Customers are energized … the mall is reinventing itself,” she said.

It’s not just the customers who are excited.

“Some of the newness is coming down on our end,” Gormley said, noting a new insurance company, Reivello’s Insurance, is going to be located at the Boscov’s end of the mall.

Gormley is happy with the partnership between the store and the mall’s management company.

“We’re going against the trend,” she said. “The whole area is seeing a lift.”

Others anchor tenants in the store are K-Mart, Dunham Sports and Old Navy.

According to Rocco, the mall also changed Sunday hours from noon to 5 p.m. to 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. to assist in the uptick of customers.

“It keeps people shopping,” Gormley said.

Lexington Realty International also manages the Marketplace at Steamtown.

A new anchor store is coming to the Laurel Mall in Hazle Township. The store will be 21,500 square feet and will be across the mall from Boscov’s.

https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/web1_COMING-SOON-TJ-Maxx.jpg.optimal.jpgA new anchor store is coming to the Laurel Mall in Hazle Township. The store will be 21,500 square feet and will be across the mall from Boscov’s. Submitted photos

New vending machines adorn the walls of the Laurel Mall, Hazle Township. The new machines have a credit card reader so customers have an option if they don’t have cash.

https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/web1_New-Vending-with-card-readers.jpg.optimal.jpgNew vending machines adorn the walls of the Laurel Mall, Hazle Township. The new machines have a credit card reader so customers have an option if they don’t have cash. Submitted photos

Since taking over as manager team of the Laurel Mall, Lisa and Rocco Arruzzo have brought in new play equipment for the kiddie zone.

https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/web1_LM-Playzone-area.jpg.optimal.jpgSince taking over as manager team of the Laurel Mall, Lisa and Rocco Arruzzo have brought in new play equipment for the kiddie zone. Submitted photos