Published: Monday, December 4, 2006
This is the Mall's largest improvement project.
This is the mall's largest improvement project.
NILES — The Cafaro Co. unveiled a multimillion-dollar face-lift to the company's Eastwood Mall in grand style.
More than 2,000 people attended the mall's grand reopening celebration Sunday night.
"We want to celebrate something positive in the community," said Anthony Cafaro Sr., president of the Youngstown-based company.
The formal event was quite the spectacle.
Vehicles, including a number of limousines, were backed up for about a quarter-mile waiting to park by the food court's main entrance as the event began.
Once inside, those attending the invitation-only event were entertained by an orchestra, ballet dancers, human mannequins, a man dressed as a wind-up toy soldier, another dressed as Jack Frost, jugglers on stilts, and a choir.
Those attending the event received discounts at mall stores, cocktails and hors d'oeuvres as well as the chance to win several prizes. Guests stood in line to sit on Santa's lap for a picture and to get a caricature drawing.
The renovation project was in the planning stage for years and it took about eight months to complete, said Kenneth J. Kollar, general manager of the Eastwood Mall complex.
Details
Gone are escalators, stairs and planters at the main entrance near Ruby Tuesday. In their place is an open food court that can seat about 350 people. Three of the six restaurant locations in the court are filled and two others will open by month's end, Kollar said.
An elevator and stairs for access upstairs were installed on the sides.
The company also installed new floors, carpeting and skylights and changed the mall's color scheme to "brighten it up," said J.J. Cafaro, the company's executive vice president.
"It's a total renovation," he said. "It's been a great undertaking to do this, but we're very excited to do it."
This is the largest improvement project at the mall in its 37-year history, said Kollar and the Cafaros.
"We feel our customers deserve it," Kollar said.
Anthony Cafaro Sr. said the company understands the economic difficulties of the Mahoning Valley. But company officials believe the area deserves the absolute best retail facility and worked hard to achieve that goal, he said.
Special meaning for family
His brother, J.J., said he got his start in the retail real estate business at Eastwood Mall.
He and his brother "both worked here when it was mud. It was my dad's pride and joy. This means so much to our family because this is where it started. This is a joyous occasion."
The company owns 19 malls and 30 shopping centers throughout the country, primarily in midsized markets. Its founder was the late William M. Cafaro.
Niles Mayor Ralph A. Infante Jr. praised the Cafaros for making the investment in the mall.
Officials did not discuss the project cost.
"The Valley is economically on the downhill a little bit and for the Cafaros to come in and make this major investment is really something," he said. "This not only helps Niles but the entire Mahoning Valley."
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