We'll Watch This Closely
From that bastion of whateverism, the Daily Bulletin:
As Victoria Gardens draws residents from around the Inland Empire to its grand opening Thursday, the open-air mall will begin to draw customers away from other local retailers.
Montclair Plaza, Ontario Mills and retailers in strip malls will all feel the effects of the new mall, according to retail analysts familiar with the city.
"A new mall will always have an initial surge of customers due to the curiosity factor," said Richard Giss, a partner at Deloitte & Touche. "The question is where people will go to shop after that initial surge, and only time will tell."
Most analysts agree that Montclair Plaza, the indoor mall that opened in 1968, stands to lose the most business to Victoria Gardens....
Ontario Mills has less to worry about when it comes to losing customers, according to analysts.
"It should fare better because it's a much different mall that's built around much lower-end merchandise," said Brian McDonald, an analyst affiliated with the International Council of Shopping Centers.
In fact, Ontario Mills could benefit from Victoria Gardens because the two malls are close enough that customers from outside the area might make the drive to shop at both malls, particularly during the holidays....
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