ILLINOIS CENTRE PREPARES FOR OPENING

MARION, Ill. -- The work goes on at Illinois Centre Mall.

Twenty-four-foot high palm trees, and other greenery, are being installed daily.

Walkway tiles more than 150,000 of them are being placed in walkways.

Shelves are being installed in various stores, including one of the big anchors, Dillards.

The mall will open in 17 days.

"We'll be ready," says Sam Rossi. "We've never been late with one yet."

Edward J. DeBartolo, the nation's leading shopping mall developer and developer of Illinois Centre, has opened more than five million square feet of malls this year.

Rossi, manager of the new 850,000 square foot mall, says he expects about 70 percent of the Illinois Centre mall space will be filled on opening day, Oct. 2, including Dillards. A fourth anchor store Target will open by mid-October.

Rossi didn't mention any of the specialty stores which will be opening Oct. 1, but among the names and logos noticed inside the mall were Beldon Jewelers, Claire's Boutique, Deb Shops, Everything's a Dollar, Fashion Bug and Fashion Bug Plus, Fun-N-Games, Hallmark Cards, Lerner New York, Payless Shoes, and Spencer's Gifts among others.

"Sears and Phar-Mor opened operations in the mall earlier," said Rossi. "We've been extremely pleased with what's happened since they opened."

Rossi said Sears had double-digit sales increases in women's fashions, shoes and draperies during the first month of operation in the mall. Phar-Mor has had more than 53,000 customers through its doors during the first month.

"Use of grand opening coupons show that customers are coming from as far north as Salem, and as far south as Paducah, Ky.," said Rossi. "This will increase as other stores open."

Rossi say he likes what he sees in the Marion market.

That includes Sam's Club and Wal-Mart, which are located just east and across the road from Illinois Centre. It also includes Toys r Us, which will be a free-standing operation located alongside Route 13 on the mall perimeter.

"These operations can be a big plus for the market here," said Rossi. "Illinois Centre customers will visit the free-standing stores, and vice-versa."

During a recent visit to the area, this writer found parking spaces at Sam's Club and the Wal-Mart Super Store were at a premium. The two Walton enterprises are located adjacent to each other.

The Illinois Centre will be the largest shopping center development in Southern Illinois.

The center will feature four anchor department stores Dillard's, Sears, Phar-Mor and Target. When in full operation, the $165 million development will include 100 specialty stores, and a 450-seat Treats Food Court.

The Marion operation, and expansion of the University mall, a dozen miles west on Highway 13, at Carbondale, are expected to have an impact on retail sales throughout the three-state Missouri, Illinois and Kentucky area. When completed, the University Mall expansion will include five anchor store, including Famous Barr, Venture, Montgomery Ward and JCPenney.

A recent retail sales survey for the major retail areas in the three states show that Paducah, Ky. and McCracken County was the 1990 retail leader in the tri-state area, with more than $658,600,000 in sales. Cape Girardeau, Mo. and Cape Girardeau County was second on the list with more than $619,700,000. Following in order was the Carbondale, Ill. and Jackson County sales figures at $454,400,000 and Marion and Williamson County at $394,340. Those totals add up to more than $2 billion.

A lot of those dollars went for general merchandise, appliances and restaurant foods. More than $340 million was spent on general merchandise in the four counties; and another $195 million went for food and drinks outside the home.

The survey estimated the total "Effective Buying Income" (EBI) in the various areas as $794 million in McCracken County; $720 million in Cape County; $699 million in Jackson County; and $549 in Williamson County.

Populations in the four areas were similar: 62,900 in McCracken; 61,900 in Cape County; 61,000 in Jackson County, and 57,800 in Williamson County.

Illinois Centre has teamed up with two world-renowned special events companies to produce a spectacular opening day dedication for the mall.

The shopping center will open under full orchestration by Jani International, a pioneer in the entertainment media industry, and BalloonArt Studio, a balloon art company with three records in the Guiness Book of World Records, including the 1986 world record balloon release in celebration of Walt Disney's birthday and Disneyland's 30th anniversary.

BalloonArt will orchestrate a spectacular balloon drop which will shower thousands of donut-shaped balloons on spectators. The largest balloons will be 16 inches wide in sapphire blues, emerald green and violets.

DeBartolo representatives and officials from throughout Williamson County will attend the festivities. following the ribbon-cutting ceremony, a parade will start, featuring the Illinois Centre community choir, a local band from Southern Illinois and festive flags.

Throughout grand opening week, shoppers may register to win prizes, including a cruise package, and a 1991 Hyundai Scoop. On Friday, Oct. 4, a fireworks display sychronized to music will fill the skies over the center.