Shoppers soon will be greeted with an updated look when they stroll Miller Hill Mall’s concourses.
The mall’s current - and somewhat dated - kiosks with faux wood trim will be replaced next month.
The mall, owned by the Simon Property Group, is getting kiosks from the King of Prussia Mall 25 miles northwest of Philadelphia. One of Simon’s flagship indoor malls, it’s the largest mall in the United States based on retail square footage. (The Mall of America in Bloomington, Minn., is the largest mall when its nonretail theme park footage is included).
About 20 kiosk carts with a sleeker design are coming.
“While they’ll be hand-me-downs, they will dramatically change the appearance of the mall,” said mall spokeswoman Machelle Kendrick. “They are bigger, modern and in better shape than the ones we have.”
The change is good news to Vic Pachev, who has had a kiosk at the mall for The Pain Relief Co. for two years.
“I would definitely prefer them to change the kiosk,” said Pachev, who sells electric massage devices. “These are old with old lighting that keeps going off, and the doors are hard to close.”
After looking at a picture of the new kiosks coming, he said. “I think they look a little bit slicker.
With the kiosk switch, the mall will get some new, yet-to-be determined kiosk tenants, Kendrick said.
“It’s a huge opportunity to have a business at the mall,” she said.
Last week, kiosk numbers were down and several stood empty near the food court. A few areas in the concourse were vacated and cordoned off.
“It’s part of the transition,” Kendrick explained.
One new kiosk - Northern Connections/Satellite Services North - which was installed two weeks ago near Caribou Coffee - departs from the other mall kiosks, both old and new. It sports a space-age look with LED lights and 48-inch screens
At a cost of $13,500 to build, it was a costly kiosk for the 35-year old company based in Northwestern Wisconsin that provides DISH, DirecTV, cable, Internet and home phone services.
“I just felt the mall needed a new look,” said Charles Shoemake, the company’s sales manager. “The reaction has been really good. It’s been bringing a lot of people around.”
