WEST PARK MALL TO HOLD WEEKEND GALA FOR ITS 10TH ANNIVERSARY

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- Lerner's Shops was one of the first 43 retail shops to open in West Park Mall a decade ago.

The women's fashion-apparel shop will more than double its current 5,000 square feet of space in the near future.

"Lerner's and mall officials are in the final stages of negotiating a contract for two additional spaces," said Elizabeth Chastain, marketing director and assistant manager at West Park Mall. "That includes the former York Steakhouse space and the General Nutrition Center space."

General Nutrition will relocate in the mall, down the Famous-Barr corridor.

The Lerner expansion, and announcement that a Champs Sports Store will open in mid-March, is good news for mall officials as they look to celebrate the mall's 10th anniversary this weekend.

"We're looking forward to a big anniversary celebration," said Chastain. "In fact, you can say it will be a `Cracker Jack' promotion."

She said the festive celebration will get under way Friday and continue through Sunday.

"This year's decade celebration will give several people an opportunity to win some nice prizes and help the Area United Way at the same time. This is literally a `Cracker Jack' celebration." she said. "We'll be working with the Cracker Jack Co. in Chicago in sponsoring the big event."

She explained the way the program will work:

"There will be 25,000 boxes of Cracker Jacks on hand. These will be distributed to the public for a $1 donation per box, with all the proceeds going to the United Way."

The boxes have been specially prepared for West Park Mall.

"More than 900 of the boxes will contain prizes valued from $1 up, including $500 shopping sprees, a vacation package, and a diamond ring," she said.

Seven hundred of the boxes will contain a "red" prize valued at from $1 to $10; 150 boxes will contain "blue" prizes valued at from $10 to $20; and 75 will contain "green" prizes valued at $20 and up.

"That's not all," she said. "Ten of the boxes will contain grand prizes, which include the shopping sprees, vacations, stereos, and a one-caret diamond ring."

Distribution centers for the Cracker Jack boxes will be in the Famous-Barr Court, JCPenney court and Venture Court. All prizes will be displayed at the redemption center near the mall's Center Court.

A Friday evening program at the mall will feature a Spring Fashion Extravaganza starting at 7 p.m. During the intermission of the fashion show, the Royal Ballet will perform.

Scattered throughout the mall will be exhibits and displays by the agencies affiliated with the United Way. Entertainment is scheduled throughout the three-day celebration.

The University choir will provide a concert at noon Friday, and a gymnastics demonstration will be presented at 4 p.m. The Southeast Missouri State University Sun Dancers will perform following the gymnastics demonstration.

On the Saturday program will be a square-dancing demonstration at 11 a.m. and a Golden Slippers performance at 1 p.m. A "Horse Quiz Bowl" will be held at 4 p.m. The Sunday program will feature the ROTC at 2 p.m., Capt. Elmer E. Trapp of Salvation Army at 3 p.m., and a Youth Choir at 4 p.m.

When West Park Mall opened a decade ago it offered a new concept in shopping for consumers in Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois.

For the first time, a major department store Famous-Barr was within easy reach of area shoppers. Several retail operations, previously found only in the metropolitan areas of St. Louis and Memphis, could be found, all under one roof.

Waldenbooks, Chick-Fil-A, Zales Jewelers and others were among the 43 retail stores that opened their doors on March 5, 1981.

Three months later, JCPenney opened in a 100,000-square-foot area, second only to the 102,000-square-foot Famous-Barr store.

Today, a third anchor store Venture, about 80,000 square feet is in operation, with possibilities of a fourth anchor Sears in the future. More than retail operations are in the mall.