Malls report mixed results in monthly survey

By Andrew Gomes
Advertiser Staff Writer

After sales increases at nearly all of the state's largest shopping centers in January and February, sales during March were mixed, though a majority reported continued growth.

Hawai'i's biggest mall, Ala Moana Center, saw its first decline in 2001 monthly sales. March sales dropped 4 percent compared to the same month the previous year.

However, Ala Moana's year-to-date sales were still up by 1 percent over the first three months of last year.

Ala Moana also reported higher-than-average sales in family apparel and food categories, which were both up 5 percent.

All three Neighbor Island centers in a monthly survey by The Advertiser reported sales increases between 2 percent and 4 percent.

The biggest increase for the month was at Aloha Tower Marketplace, where March sales rose 7 percent.

The biggest decrease was at Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center, which attributed a monthly decline of 15 percent to drops in the number of visitor days and a weaker yen.

Mall management at Pearlridge Center, which reported a 6 percent increase, noted that this past March, unlike March 2000, had five Saturdays, which is the busiest shopping day of the week at the center.

Sales rose at Kahala Mall, where three stores expanded or renovated during March, helping boost sales 4 percent for the month and 5 percent for the year.

A couple of centers — Windward Mall and Victoria Ward — reported slight increases, but are looking ahead to bigger gains in late May, and the months that follow, after those centers open theaters that could significantly boost purchases at retail stores.

Windward Mall's Signature Theatres Stadium 10 opens next Friday, as does Consolidated's Ward 16 Theatre.