Here are the latest changes at Birchwood Mall

FORT GRATIOT — A lot of changes have been happening at Birchwood Mall, and mall management and business owners said it is moving the facility in a positive direction.

Recently, Birchwood Mall has seen a new crop of businesses, changes in business locations and a new basketball league, said General Manager Lois Potts.

"It has been amazing to work with local business owners and watch them grow at the mall," she said.

Potts said the mall has shifted focus to working with local businesses over the past few years, which allows it to be more community oriented. Potts said word of mouth has been a great tool in getting local businesses in the mall.

She said the mall has seen an increase in businesses that are interested in having storefronts.

"Stores will always come and go, that's the nature of the business," she said. "As the old saying goes, when one door closes another one opens. This provides opportunity for new or existing businesses to join Team Birchwood."

Some business owners within Birchwood Mall said summertime is a bit slower because people are typically outside enjoying the warm weather. That being said, business owners and mall management alike said Birchwood Mall is doing better in terms of business recruitment and overall foot traffic.

Birchwood Mall is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and from noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday.

What's new at Birchwood Mall?

A new youth basketball league was started in the mall, with its first official season in March. Rizz Apparel Co-owner Dwayne Kidd is the court manager, and started the league as part of his nonprofit, the Kidd Foundation. The new basketball court is located in the mall's north wing, next to the Post Office.

Potts said the old court was moved from the food court to the north wing of the mall after the previous organizer didn't renew the event agreement. Kidd then picked it up.

Kidd said he wanted to provide something extra at the mall for kids to do.

"Kids get dropped off here and don't have much to do," he said. "So, I thought the basketball court would be perfect for them."

The basketball league is co-ed and open to kids aged 7 to 17 years old. Its summer season will be starting soon.

Red Pepper, a new Mexican American restaurant, opened up in the old Taco Bell location in the food court. Owner Mike Duenaz said a lot of customers have told him that they are happy to have Red Pepper in Fort Gratiot.

"It's good to be in the mall," he said. "It's getting better and there's more stores coming in. Lois is a great manager and she's the one who made this happen for me."

Red Pepper officially opened in Birchwood Mall in May.

The mall is the second location for Good Times Boutique, which used to be located in downtown Port Huron. Co-owners Dawon Puckette and Jeniel Greenlaw said the business moved away from downtown because of the lack of parking near the old location.

Greenlaw said she and the other owners initially underestimated the mall.

"We were worried about not having foot traffic, but it has actually been a good move," she said.

Take Your Pic, a selfie museum opened in early May, and is a place where people can come in and take photos with one of the many back drops inside. Owner Danielle Brunk said the business is doing well so far, but she wants to get the word out so people know exactly what the business is about.

Most people walk in and take photos with their phones, but Brunk said she has had a party of people come in with a photographer.

"I haven't heard a negative word from anyone," she said. "People come in, have a good time and walk out with some fun photos."

It is $15 per person and free for children 5 years old or younger. There are discounts available for groups.

113 Gifts is the second store for the owners of McKinna's Coin Jewelry and showcases local artists and vendors. Co-owner Krystine McKinna said the numbers in the stores name are angel numbers that represent new beginnings and second chances.

"It's new beginnings for the vendors in there and a second chance for the rest of us," she said. "McKinna's is a jewelry store, but people don't buy jewelry every day. Opening 113 Gifts was like a second chance."

113 Gifts officially opened in November. McKinna said 113 Gifts has been received well by the community. She said both 113 Gifts and McKinna's Coin Jewelry are doing well at the mall.

McKinna said that because many businesses in the mall are local, a lot of the owners know and try to support one another.

"I think people need to give the mall a second chance," she said. "Just about everyone in the mall is from the community and we need to show support for each other."

Additionally, Elite Elevations, an indoor trampoline park, is slated to open in the fall, according to Potts. The Times Herald was unable to reach the owner of Elite Elevations prior to publication.

In addition to the crop of new businesses, one business in the mall has moved locations. Rizz Apparel has moved to the old Champs location. Co-owner Rizzabele Sanchez said the move was necessary because the business had outgrown its original space.

"We outgrew the old space less than a year of being in it," Sanchez said. "Thankfully this space opened up and gave us a bigger opportunity at the mall."

Sanchez said the new location not only has more window space, but also receives more foot traffic than the old location.

Rizz Apparel opened in its new location during Memorial Day weekend. It has been a year since the business's grand opening.

Contact McKenna Golat at mgolat@gannett.com.

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This article originally appeared on Port Huron Times Herald: Here are the latest changes at Birchwood Mall