Palmer Park Mall Adds 7 New Businesses

By Jack Tobias

If Palmer Park Mall has a new look, that's because it has seven new stores, including a couple of eateries, a dollar store and stores selling toys and games, shoes, jewelry and furniture.

"We're very happy we've added a great new line of merchandise," mall manager Brian Molchany told Patch as the Palmer Township retail institution gears up for the holiday season.

The mall's new offerings are:

• Dino's Pizza-teria II
• The Green Pepper
• Dollar Galaxy
• Rack Room Shoes
• Best Ever Jewelry
• Milford Furniture
• Go! Calendars, Games & Toys, which Molchany said is a temporary tenant for the holiday season.

In his conversation with Patch, Molchany pointed out some things about the new businesses. For instance, referring to Dollar Gallaxy, he said "people asked for it," meaning they wanted the mall to again have a dollar store.

Indeed, Dollar Gallaxy has replaced a previous dollar store, he said.

As for the eateries, Molchany said Dino's and its Italian specialties replaces Cosimo's Pizza. And he said The Green Pepper and its Mexican fare is the first time the mall has had a restaurant offering south-of-the-border food.

"We needed something more in our food offerings at the mall," Molchany said.

Descriptions of all the new businesses are available on the Palmer mall website.

Asked about the state of retailing, Molchany talked about more competition.

"The industry's changed because of the Web," he said, referring to the explosion of online shopping.

He also pointed to competition from newly launched businesses and the growing number of outdoor "strip centers."

But he said he's optimistic about the future of malls, touting their no-rush, climate-controlled atmosphere.

"It's still one of the nicest environments to shop in," Molchany said.