MACON, Ga. — At the Macon Mall on Eisenhower Parkway, some employees are hoping business picks up with the new changes in the area, like the addition of the world's largest indoor pickleball venue, and the Macon Amphitheater being built across the street.
While retail experts say the golden age for mall shopping was in the 1970s and 1980s, the Macon Mall's website says it still has 21 businesses open.
Tommy Superior worked at Clockwork Skate Shop for almost two years.
"You know, it's definitely has its periods where it's busier you know during the holiday season," he said.
He said this year's been busier than last year.
"That bicentennial art over there, that's always really good event. They brought Robert Coleman out before. So it's a combination of really bringing people to do other activities to see what is here," Superior said.
And while business has been good to them this year, he said he still hopes the mall can go back to the same level it used to be.
"It definitely is gonna need development to get back to that, but these things that they're doing are a step in the right direction," he said.
At John Smeal and Co. Jewelers, manager Kimberly Pennington feels the same way.
"The shoe department, Macy's- we've seen everything leave, and just the foot traffic just rapidly decline. So it's, it's been tough sometimes," Pennington said.
Last month, Visit Macon said the new pickleball court in the mall brought almost 700 visitors for one event.
More events in and around the mall could mean more eyes on small businesses like the jewelry store.
"We're hopeful that the pickleball court's gonna help out. We're hoping that the courthouses downstairs are gonna help out. We're also hoping that this amphitheater's really going to help us out a lot. So we're hopeful for more businesses to come into the mall, and just bring it back to life," she said.
For now, Pennington said all they can do is focus on providing the best customer service possible to keep people coming back and keep their sales up for the store's survival.