Room for Utah's Own in New Downtown Mall?

None by KCPW

(KCPW News) When the new City Creek Center mall opens in 2011, many of the shops will be national retail chains found in upscale malls across America. Local shop owners are hopeful the LDS Church will include enough of Utah's own business to give Salt Lake's mall a special feel. Retail developer William Taubman promises the mall will include some local businesses:

"We always work hard to find local tenants who can be successful - with the financial capability, marketing and merchandising savvy to be competitive in a shopping district like this," says Taubman."

He says much of the local representation in the mall will be food shops, since high-end fashion in the U.S. is dominated by national retail chains.

Sam Weller's Bookstore owner Tony Weller thinks Taubman and the LDS Church should make extra efforts to accommodate local shops.

"I think what Taubman said sounded realistic - about current economies and the ability of small merchants to compete in this kind of thing," says Weller. "But I'm a firm believer that business belongs in the hands of local citizens."

LDS Church officials point to the selection of Utah-based Harmon's Grocer to build a store in the development as proof of their commitment to local business. Furthermore, they plan to use local architects and builders for much of the work.

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