Twenty Ninth Street mall provides new stores and easy parking
There’s more outdoor shopping available now in Boulder than just the Pearl Street Mall. The Twenty Ninth Street mall is an outdoor collection of shops, restaurants and entertainment located at the intersection of Canyon Boulevard and 29th Street.
Having just opened this fall, the effects of this new mall on Boulder consumers have yet to be determined. However, Twenty Ninth Street’s plentiful parking, Century Theaters, Victoria’s Secret and Apple Store may give Pearl Street a run for its money.
“I don’t think that this new mall is competition for Pearl Street because they are too different and have very different clientele. Pearl Street will always attract the touristy-types,” said Roger Hall, a resident of Boulder, as he shopped at the Apple Store. “The only drawback to the Pearl Street Mall is that the parking is inconvenient; I could see people coming here who could not find a place to park by Pearl.”
However, Hall thinks residents of Boulder will stay true to their town and remain loyal customers to local shops on Pearl Street.
“I will not shop at the (Borders Books and Music) store. I, for one, go to Boulder Book Store because it is local. I would rather support a local book store than a chain,” Hall said.
Walking into the new Apple Store, with its spotless glass front windows, there were easily 30 customers inside testing out the newest Apple technology.
“Personally I prefer Pearl Street Mall because I like to hang out there, but this new mall is high class” said Stephanie Geist, 15, as she tested some of the gismos at the new Apple Store. “I think I will shop here and on Pearl Street.”
The new mall has many stores that may appeal to college- and high school-aged students-a big market in Boulder. Apple, Victoria’s Secret, Puma, Century Theaters, Jamba Juice, Starbucks, Chipotle, Pei Wei, Verizon Wireless and Panera Bread are among some of the stores Twenty Ninth Street has to offer.
With all these stores located so close to each other, and with convenient parking, the mall makes it easy for students to grab a cup of coffee, see a movie, shop, and go out for dinner all in one place.
“I don’t shop at Pearl Street Mall because traffic and parking are so bad. Sometimes I go to Flatirons Mall, but I am also going to shop here now,” Sherrie Cole, a resident of Boulder, said. “I love that they have a Bath & Body Works and a Victoria’s Secret.”
One benefit Pearl Street still offers is its unique, locally-owned restaurants.
“My family goes to dinner on weekends at Pearl Street because the meters are free, but it is crazy to shop there during the day,” Cole said.
Another perk to Boulder’s new mall is the new job opportunities that are available. The mall’s Web site, http://twentyninth.com, lists numerous job opportunities offered by the new stores and restaurants.
