Old Navy is due at center

BURBANK VILLAGE — Shoppers at the Burbank Town Center may have noticed that something is brewing inside a cordoned-off area on the first floor between Sports Chalet and the main information desk.

The 15,000-square-foot space will soon house an Old Navy store, which is one of eight new retailers setting up shop in the mall.

As construction workers darted in and out of the future Old Navy store Tuesday, some shoppers were enthusiastic about the opening slated for November.

“I’ve always liked Old Navy,” Mary Dominguez, 15, said. “Especially the way they print labels on all their clothing.”

Mary’s companion, Bernadette Ramos, 15, nodded in agreement.

“I like that they have a good variety,” she said. “It’s not just preppy or punk — it’s a little bit of everything.”

Old Navy comes to Burbank after a mall survey pinpointed the retail chain as the No. 1 store shoppers wanted to see in the mall, said Jim O’Neil, executive vice president of Crown Realty and Management.

“We do surveys on an annual basis just to make sure we’re keeping the pulse of the community and trying to meet the community’s needs and wants,” he said “That’s something that’s important to us, and Old Navy was at the top of everyone’s list.”

Seven other vendors will open in the Town Center, including Zales Jewelers, which has already opened up on the second level; Aldo’s Shoes; Lids; Zumiez, which carries sports-related apparel, footwear, equipment and accessories; Make It Personal, which carries keepsake gifts and does custom engraving; Comerica Bank; and American Eagle, a high-end clothing company that caters to young people, O’Neil said.

Since Crown Management took over the Burbank Town Center in March 2003, vendor occupancy has jumped from 72% to slightly more than 96%, O’Neil said. Although occupancy is close to full capacity, opportunities for other vendors still exist because some tenants are leasing on a temporary basis, he said. Crown is already targeting several companies in the food-service, clothing, housewares and cosmetic industries, he said.

“Tenants are like sheep, they tend to follow each other around,” he said. “The more tenants you bring here, it brings on a more positive atmosphere.”

Attracting tenants to the mall’s lower level used to pose a challenge due to limited access to the area, O’Neil said. But mall management improved the lower level’s accessibility, installing an elevator and an escalator near the main entrance.

“The foot traffic in the lower level has seen a dramatic increase,” he said.

Now Bed Bath and Beyond, Sports Chalet and a Macy’s entrance occupy the first floor, as well a children’s play area, which was a $170,000 investment, O’Neil said.