YONKERS, N.Y. Yonkers residents no longer have to travel outside the city to get their Apple fix. With the Apple Store opening at Westchester's Ridge Hill, shoppers are raving about the mall's latest addition.
I work near by, so this is very convenient for me, said Josette Criscitelli of Yorktown, who visits the store on lunch breaks. If it wasnt for this store, Id probably never go to an Apple Store anywhere else, so Im glad they opened.
Carmela Lassister of Yonkers has come several times since the store opened on June 30. Ive been here three times since then. I cant get enough of this place.
During their grand opening festivities, store employees passed out T-shirts to the first 1,000 customers as they entered the store. There was cheering and screaming as you walked in, Kaj Giston said. The store is absolutely amazing and definitely one of the biggest Apple Stores I have seen.
The Apple Store opening continues a trend of mainstream retailers that have come to Ridge Hill mall. Ridge Hill is destined to be a Yonkers success story, said Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano. Its not just a shopping center, but a local destination for families and shoppers around the area.
Spano added that Ridge Hill's newest addition is a clear indication that companies like Apple, Whole Foods, Lord & Taylor are not afraid of investing in Yonkers. This proves they see the economic potential of this shopping destination and Yonkers. I am sure we will continue to see big retailers flock to the area, he said.
Kathryn Welch, senior vice president of retail at Forest City Ratner, which developed and manages the Ridge Hill mall, believes the addition of the Apple Store provided both consumers and the store with a unique opportunity.
They didnt have a store in this market, Welch said of Apple. The closest store was Manhattan, and theres a lot of people here they werent serving. This is a great market, the demographics are great, the income level is great and the access to the facility is great.
After breaking ground in 2007, Forest City Ratner had high expectations for Ridge Hill, but, after 2008, the region hit hard economic times. Now, Welch said, the facility is doing well.
It just took longer to get to where we wanted to be, but additions like the Apple Store make it easier, she said.
Certain stores bring in new customers and thats the goal, Welch added. We definitely want to penetrate more of the market and we are doing fine, but we are always looking for new customers. Most importantly, everyone that comes to the center really likes their experience.
Click here to follow Daily Voice Yonkers and receive free news updates.