AURORA — A brightly colored sea of more than 1,000 people toting lawn chairs converged on the Town Square at the Southlands Mall in southeast Aurora. They spilled over onto surrounding sidewalks and side streets, and spread blankets over medians, effectively closing Main Street before the free concert began.
“We get so many people here for the concert series, it’s phenomenal,” said Joyce Rocha-Brown, director of marketing at Southlands Mall. “We have a lot going on in the summertime here at Southlands, and the community always responds well.”
That Eighties Band is one of the more popular groups that graces the outdoor stage each summer. On July 17, hundreds of people leapt from their seats and danced to Michael Jackson, Cyndi Lauper and AC/DC. Southlands has hosted a free concert every Thursday night in the summer since 2007.
“We don’t charge for any of the events — they’re strictly for the community,” Rocha-Brown said. “We have a number of events centered on kids because there are so many families out here.”
In June, Southlands partnered with the Aurora Family YMCA to start a kid’s camp called Cub Club. Every month, the mall hosts a free, special event for the club that includes bouncy castles and activities provided by area stores like the Paint Cellar. The Paint Cellar hosts a separate, weeklong kids’ camp as well. The next camp begins July 28 and costs $150.
This is also the second year for Movies on the Square, an outdoor screening of free, family-friendly films every Wednesday night until Aug. 13.
“There are not a lot of other things in this area,” Rocha-Brown said, “so Southlands really believes that we should be a community partner and provide free, engaging activities for the people who live here.”
Located east of E-470 and north of East Smoky Hill Road, the 1.7-million-square-foot shopping center is largely surrounded by suburban homes in a semi-rural area.
“We’re constantly freshening the events and retail options for our community,” Rocha-Brown said. “We have two great leasing teams that have done a great job of leasing throughout the tougher times in recent years.”
Just this summer, the mall unveiled a new, 35,000-square-foot Tru Fit Athletic Club at 24060 E. Orchard Road. The facility includes a dry sauna, tanning amenities, a yoga studio and a kids club. Two new restaurants — Monsoon Restaurant and Pho 97 — also opened this summer. A 21,000-square-foot H&M is slated to open in November.
Mall general manager Jeff Nemec said retail growth at Southlands is booming.
“In 2012, we did just over 30,000 square feet of new leasing deals,” Nemec said. “So far this year, we’ve done more than 90,000 square feet, and it’s only July.”
The types of leases are now branching into community medical centers, he said. Parker Adventist Hospital will open its first Centura Health Southlands Neighborhood Health Center at the mall this fall.
The project includes a 16,000-square-foot, 24/7 emergency room, to open Nov. 3 at 6159 S. Southlands Parkway, and a 19,000-square-foot Neighborhood Health Center, to open Sept. 29 at 6069 S. Southlands Parkway, next to the Red Lobster.
“Southeast Aurora is a fast-growing community,” said Rachel Robinson, spokeswoman for Parker Adventist Hospital. “We really want to be able to provide easy access and high quality medical care to serve that growing patient population.”
Rocha-Brown said she thinks one of the most exciting additions to the mall is the newly renovated AMC Southlands 16 at 23955 E. Plaza Ave. The 16-screen movie theater went under construction last September and opened back up as an AMC Red Kitchen in February.
AMC Red Kitchen is a dine-in theater concept with red leather recliners and full service waiters and bartenders. Capacity of the theater shrunk from 4,000 to about 1,250.
“This was the first Red Kitchen concept in the country,” Rocha-Brown said. “And they decided to do it at Southlands, which we’re thrilled about. It’s a perfect fit for our community.”
Megan Mitchell: 303-954-2650, or mmitchell@denverpost.com
