LOUISVILLE (WHAS11) -- New life tonight for the Jefferson Mall in Louisville's south end, and it's a trend we're seeing all around town.
A new entertainment venue called Round1 will take the place of the Old Macy's store.
If you look locally the malls really are shifting towards sports entertainment as Oxmoor Mall is working on getting a Top Golf, and Mall St. Matthews has already announced plans for a Dave and Busters.
Meanwhile, down the road Jefferson Mall is hoping that Round1 is just the start of their rebrand.
As long as Heather Raymer can remember she’s been coming to Jefferson Mall.
“I used to come with my grandma when I was little,” said Heather Raymer. “We would walk around the mall for exercise.”
These days she’s no longer walking the mall, she’s chasing her son through it, but she says it’s a very different vibe.
“There’s less stores than there was,” said Raymer. “I’ve noticed that there is a change in how crowded it used to be.”
Since losing Macy’s as an anchor store Jefferson Mall Marketing Director Sarah Enlow says they’vebeen working on a redevelopment plan and they think they’ve found the perfect match in Round1.
“Round1 is a multi-entertainment activity complex,” Sarah Enlow said. “It’s a very large area that has a little bit of everything. It has bowling, arcade games, karaoke areas, pool tables, plus they will have food and drinks so you can eat and have a great time.”
According to GLI Vice President Deana Karem, with more stores headed online these are the types of family entertainment are big tickets for malls across the nation.
“I think the malls are going to become much more experiential where people go there for entertainment instead of just shopping,” Deana Karem said. “I don’t think they’re going to disappear and become invisible with the shopping, but the retail outlets will be much smaller.”
“It will be an unparalleled family entertainment experience,” Enlow said. “Somewhere you can bring your kids out and have a great time as a family while enjoying Jefferson Mall.”
While Round1 may just be the beginning of the evolution it has already won over shoppers like Raymer.
“I’ve had friends that went and they said they love it,” said Raymer. “I think it would be a great environment for the mall. I think it will just be awesome.”
While work is already ongoing to clean out the old Macy's and repurpose it as a Round1 they are still in the process of hanging signs announcing the move.
A Jefferson Mall spokesperson said they hope to have the work completed before the holidays this year.