Southside Mall To Welcome New Stores, Including Michaels

By WRILEY NELSON
ONEONTA

Southside Mall General Manager Luisa Montanti announced that the mall will enter a new era with the addition of a Michaels as an anchor store in the spring. The announcement is the latest in a series of new additions to the mall as it recovers from the economic slowdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Southside has added a number of local offerings in recent years, including Sweet Caroline’s Co., Azul Oneonta and a holiday-season pop-up location for Super Heroes Humane Society. Other new stores are expected to be announced soon, but the mall team is not yet at liberty to discuss specifics.

According to Montanti, Michaels corporate reached out to Southside several years ago, and the craft-supply store made a perfect fit for the storefront recently vacated by Office Max. She said that new offerings are found by mall team scouting and solicitation from companies.

“We’re pretty well maxed out now in terms of space, despite losing three stores in the wake of COVID due to leases expiring or large chains consolidating their stores into fewer locations during the downturn,” Montanti said. “In terms of sales, we’re up nearly 20 percent over last year and foot traffic has been steady. I always like to thank our small, local community for supporting our small, local mall, and I’m happy that we’re able to offer so many services and event spaces to the area.”

She singled out Luncheons and Dragons and the recently renovated Southside Cinema as important players in drawing traffic and creating community space within the mall.

“We aim for continuous improvement over the coming years,” she continued. “There are a number of other new businesses outside the mall on this side of the river thanks to the new water district plan…we are also happy to provide event space to local non-profits.”

In the last week alone, the mall hosted an American Red Cross blood drive in partnership with the Oneonta YMCA and a basket raffle fundraiser with Otsego Pride Alliance.

In addition to other stores and programs, the Southside Market crafter and artisan fair is held on the second Saturday of each month. There will be a Holiday Market from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, December 9, featuring a wide variety of local makers. Santa will visit from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

For more information, visit the Southside Mall and Southside Market Facebook pages.