The Orlando Sentinel from Orlando, Florida • Page 56

12 Central Florida Business April 17-23, 1995 RETAIL IDEO'CUST WE iLOCKBUSTE RJL 16,000 Movies patrons say they like stores just the way they are By Brad Kuhn OF THE SENTINEL STAFF lockbuster Entertainment Corp. spokesman Wally Knief said the international video-rental giant Parkway through the established neighborhood. "We're not saying we've got money, we're going to develop something," Mittiga said. "What we are trying to do is inspire an economic development program for that neighborhood, trying to find out from the neighbors what they want." ASIAN SQUARE MALL. No action yet on the Asian Square Mall, a retail center planned at 1400 E.

Colonial Drive. Developer Peter Pham said in January that he planned to open the facility in March. Pham, who also owns the Diamond and Gold Center on International Drive, could not be reached for comment. OCOEE MALL. Homart, a division of Sears, Roebuck and this week bought 130 acres near Ocoee for the West Oaks Mall.

Work has begun on the first phase of the project, formerly known as the Lake Lotta Mall. The official groundbreaking is scheduled for May 3. The mall, anchored by Sears, Dillard's, Gayfer's and JCPenney, is scheduled to open in the fall of 1996. Phase one also includes 125 specialty stores and a multiscreen movie theater. Homart spokeswoman Maria Argyropou-los said details on the theater and specialty stores are not available at this time.

The Victorian-style mall, with lots of atriums and curving metal arches, was can Video Network stores operating under their separate corporate identity for the foreseeable future. American Video customers said they hope that's true. But they are skeptical. COUNTDOWN TO KNOCKDOWN. Workers have begun removing asbestos from Colonial Plaza Mall, getting ready for demolition, which should begin within the next 30 days.

Mall owners CousinsNew Market Development Co. of Atlanta, settled a lawsuit with the Sneaker Tree shoe store. Store owner Hitesh Khatri closed the store last week and retired. His sons plan to open a Sneaker Tree II in Kis-simmee. Negotiations continue with Len-scrafters, the last tenant inside the mall.

A handful of exterior tenants plans to remain open during the renovation. Those include Walgreens, Rhodes, Sadler's, Coral Gables Federal Savings and Loan, Goodyear and a dry-cleaning shop. The mall will be replaced with a power center, an outdoor shopping center built around big-name retailers that specialize in one type of merchandise. The new center, scheduled to open in March, will include a Circuit City electronics store and a Barnes Noble bookstore, among other things. Paul Rakof, a Circuit City spokesman, said the electronics store plans to replace its store farther east on State Road 50 with a store at Colonial Plaza.

Colonial Plaza is Cousins' first project in Central Florida. But Mike Lant, senior development manager, said the company is looking for other sites. WASHINGTON SHORES: The City of Orlando has hired a consultant to study revitalization efforts for Washington Shores, a predominantly black community west of downtown Orlando. Joe Mittiga, spokesman for Orlando Mayor Glenda Hood, said the city is working with residents to create a downtown, including retail and office space. The effort is in response to protests of city plans to extend the John Young thinks it can learn some things from American Video Network, the Orlando-based chain it bought earlier this month.

Customers of the newly acquired store chain also known as 16,000 Movies agree, and they're not shy about expressing their opinions. Betty Spencer, a mother of two children, ages 12 and 20, said she hasn't used her Blockbuster card since the late 1980s, when the Fort Lauderdale-based chain decided not to stock the controversial movie The Lost Temptation of Christ. "I want the right to choose my own movies," Spencer said. Everett Sawyer said he hasn't carried his Blockbuster card for six years. "It doesn't take me three days to watch a movie." he said.

"I like one-day rentals. It's cheaper." Jessie Windom said he chose American Video Network over Blockbuster because the prices were lower, but he staved for the selection American Video stocks 16,000 titles, compared with an average of 5.000 at Blockbuster stores. "I haven't been to Blockbuster in a year and a half." he said. Vicki Barehmi said she chose American Video Network because she liked the service. "It's more upbeat," she said.

There are some things about American Video that Blockbuster may not want to copy. The displays are more haphazard, and the store is more cluttered. None of that seems to matter to American Video customers, however, who like the gritty, neighborhood video store feel to the place. Customers said they like the way employees greet them enthusiastically. There's free popcorn, and cashiers call out the titles of movies as they are returned, in case someone in the store is looking for a popular title that was out of stock.

Another big difference: American Video Network carries X-rated videos. There's a definite attitude to American Video Network a legacy of the chain's quirky founders Bob and Steve Zlatkiss. But it's an attitude that has built fierce customer loyalty. The bottom line: Customers said shopping at American Video Network is fun. "As soon as you walk in, you feel comfortable," said Lissie Jenkins.

"At Blockbuster, it's like they're having a funeral when you walk in." Blockbuster spokesman Knief said the company plans to keep all 17 Ameri designed by Thompson, Ventulett, Steinback Associates Inc. of Atlanta. Homart owns and manages the Pembroke Lakes Mall in Pembroke Pines and is a joint venture partner in Lakeland Square mall. The company, founded in 1959, owns 87 million square feet of retail, office and multiuse space nationwide. The mall will be the first to serve metropolitan Orlando's western suburbs.

CHURCH STREET EXCHANGE. Benetton, the struggling Italian clothier, closed its downtown Orlando store in December as part of a nationwide consolidation. This month the Cotton Cabana Club took its place. The Church Street Exchange location is the first expansion for the New Orleans-based retailer, which specializes in all-white cotton casual clothing. Also leaving, was Udderly Country, which sold country-themed collectibles.

Other new tenants at The Exchange in 1995 include: Hattitudes, an Orlando-based purveyor of hats; The Casual Place, an Orlando-based casual clothier: Willie's Outpost, specializing in Florida-themed novelties; and Latin Folk Art Gifts. Kim Santos, marketing director for The Exchange, said the three-story downtown mall is 98 percent occupied. COLLEGE PARK. Gingersnap Station and Paper Gallery, two related family-owned businesses on the east side of Edgewater Drive in College Park, have combined under the same roof across the street in 4,500 square feet formerly occupied by Toy Parade. The businesses' former location is scheduled for renovation.

UiiSTRATIONHOMAHT Phase 1 of West Oaks Mall win indude 125 specialty stores and a movie theater..