There’s a chance you already knew about yet another new business at the Meadowbrook Mall. And there’s probably a greater chance you knew about it after Saturday.

 

It was yesterday that Cricket Wireless “officially” opened up their newest location at the Mall. The store, according to Meadowbrook Mall Property Manager Marcello Lalama has been open for a few months – late August to be exact.

 

However, the company held a grand opening event Saturday offering many specials. Cricket send flyers to area residents as one way to let the community know of their still relatively new presence.

 

“They’re a known cellular phone carrier brand,” said Lalama. “They’re located in a kiosk right by American Eagle.”

 

According to the Cricket Web site, this isn’t the first location in the area or Harrison County. Locations exist in Clarksburg, as well as in Marion and Monongalia Counties. However, Lalama said that what the business provides is not only beneficial to the mall, but to the convenience of the mall’s customers.

 

“The field of cellular phones, which is a multi-billion dollar a year industry, is one where we believe that it’s best to have as many of the providers available in your location as possible. You can come to the mall and pretty much visit as many as possible on one location; our property,” said Lalama. “Cricket is another great option for the customers.”

Cricket offers a variety of service plans. They also offer a variety of phones and multiple other services. Lalama said he’s hopeful the holiday shopping season grand opening event serves them well and said it’s a good time for the business to do it.

 

“Most of the stores go through a soft opening without much fanfare or publicity to get their feet wet so it’s not unusual to see a business wait one month or a few months before having a grand opening,” said Lalama. “In this case, with the holiday traffic, having a grand opening (Saturday) is a perfect time.”

 

The opening is one of several new businesses that came on the heels of several that closed in the past year. Last week, we told you of O Chi Reflexology and Four Horsemen Gaming and Comics as part of the permanent business roster. Lalama and Joe Bell of the Cafaro Company, the group that owns the mall, have both said they hope to soon have an announcement about a new business that will occupy the bulk of the vacant space left with Gap closed earlier this year.