Legoland Discovery Center won't open at Phipps Plaza for another year, but its looming presence has meant changes, with more on the way.
Most of the mall food court has been eliminated to make way for the Lego-themed attraction, with just three eateries remaining. Those three will close by the end of May and will be relocated to another part of the third level. Mall manager Dewayne Herbert said an additional one or two food court-style restaurants will be added, but Phipps will not have a full food court going forward.
"Frankly, this mall food court was under-performing," Herbert said. "Food courts don't draw people. Attractions like this do."
Connie Blend, who was taking her two grandchildren to the movies at Phipps on Tuesday, said she shops at the mall but will not miss the food court, which she rarely uses. Others said Moe's Southwest Grill, Subway and Nori Sushi and Grill might not be enough to satisfy hungry weekend crowds.
"The choices are limited," said Katrina Jones, who came to the movies on Tuesday with a friend. "This is a big downsize for the mall."
In all, six restaurants have closed, including Johnny Rockets and Chick-fil-A. Herbert said some of the more popular ones might open in the new food area.
He said the addition of the Legoland Discovery Center is part of a broad plan for Phipps that includes making the third level an entertainment-centric floor and adding children's retailers to the second floor, to capitalize on the crowds Legoland will bring.
"There's a lot of opportunity for family growth in this area," Herbert said. "People inside the Perimeter shop for their kids, too."
Legoland's construction will add 12,000 square feet of leasable space to the 815,000-square-foot mall. Herbert estimated the attraction would bring an additional 400,000 people annually. Phipps now gets 8 million annual visitors.
About the Author
