Retail sales are down across the country and are expected to continue to drop as unemployment rises and people become disciplined spenders.
The International Council of Shopping Centers on Thursday reported a 4.8 percent decrease in January same-store sales, excluding Wal-Mart, which saw a small gain. The decrease marks the fourth consecutive monthly drop.
“The economy remains challenged,” said Nick LeMasters, general manager of the Cherry Creek mall. “Retailers at Cherry Creek and throughout the nation are feeling the effects.”
In January, nationwide mall traffic was down 21 percent, said Britt Beemer, founder of America’s Research Group.
Still, there are some bright spots, said LeMasters, citing the planned spring openings of Sephora, Vans and Johnston & Murphy in the mall and Brio Tuscan Grill on the former site of Macaroni Grill.
In addition, a handful of retailers in the mall have seen sales rise over last year, including Urban Outfitters, Forever 21 and Anthropologie.
“Look at Forever 21 — what they’ve done is blend that value orientation with a strong fashion viewpoint, and the customer is responding well,” LeMasters said.
On the other hand, luxury has been disproportionately affected, he said.
At Westminster Mall, events such as a recent baseball-card show lure people in, but the impulse shopping doesn’t come with it anymore, said manager Kenton Anderson.
“It’s a different world than it was a year ago. It is shocking,” Anderson said.
For Westminster Mall, which is only about 50 percent occupied, the downturn couldn’t have come at a worse time. The mall is in the beginning stages of redevelopment, and plans are still being reviewed.
“With the retail environment changing, we are also going to change, but that has put us in a very vulnerable place,” Anderson said. “We are looking ahead to the holiday season being the turnaround.”
Elizabeth Aguilera: 303-954-1372 or eaguilera@denverpost.com
