West
Bloomfield

ci;

Mall

Moves

KIMBERLY LIFTON

Staff 1%Triter

I.

"We have doubled our
business," Mrs. Wagner
says, adding she now does
quite a bit of walk-in busi-
ness. In addition, her
regular clients have followed
her three miles north.
"This mall has so much
ambiance," she says. "It is
like a little Somerset Mall."
Mrs. Wagner hadn't been
looking for a new home for
her business. The spa at
Hunter's Ridge at 14 Mile
and Orchard Lake roads had
too many hallways. But it
worked just fine, and the
customers rarely complain-
ed.
She and the other shop
owners at Hunter's Square
Mall were forced to make
some quick decisions after
they were told at the end of
last year they must leave to
make room for a discount
mall. Loehmann's and F &
M already are located there.
The departures of stores
from Hunter's Square has
generated profits for two
West Bloomfield malls just a
few miles north, Orchard
Lake Mall and Crosswinds.
"We don't like to see any
mall close up," says Julie
Peven, manager of Greg
Shoes, which has been a
staple at the Orchard Mall.
"But when Hunter's Square
closed, it was a godsend for
both malls. It is nice to see

WB-14

FRIDAY, JULY 10, 1992

Photo by Gle nn Tries t

n the last 29 years, Kit-
ty Wagner has moved her
salon and spa five times.
Yet her last move three
months ago from Hunter's
Square at 14 Mile and Or-
chard Lake may have been
the best choice, she says.

Crosswinds Mall and Orchard Lake Mall in West
Bloomfield have new tenants and more business due
to the construction at Hunter's Square.

the mall filled. We have
more traffic."
Orchard Lake Mall is now
home to Sherri's, Ilona and
Gallery and Pollak's Bridal.
"There has been a lot more
traffic here," says Sheri
Levenson Stay of Guys N'
Gals. "We've noticed more
mothers walking through

the halls with their chil-
dren."
Adds Rissa Winkelman of
BookPeople,"There was
always traffic in this mall.
Now it is a real busy mall."
Historically, Orchard Mall
had always fared better than
Crosswinds, which for years,
had trouble keeping its

tenants. But new manage-
ment, Crosswinds Associ-
ates, an influx of stores from
Hunter's Square and two
popular restaurants have
contributed to increased
customers.
Its ghost town image no
longer applies as all but two
or three spaces are leased.