HARRISBURG, PA (November 13, 2013) – Rainbow Shops has signed a lease extension within Harrisburg Mall that includes a nearly 4,000 square foot expansion into the adjacent store, located on the second level of the one million square shopping project on Paxton Street. The New York-based national retailer intends to add a larger children’s clothing and accessories line of products at this new 12,000 square foot location, and expects to open the enlarged store in mid-winter 2014. Harrisburg Mall features more than 70 tenants, including anchor stores Macy’s, Bass Pro Shops, 2nd & Charles and Regal Cinema’s Great Escape Harrisburg Mall Stadium 14. Baltimore-based St. John Properties, Inc. and Petrie Ross Ventures comprise the partnership group that co-owns and manages the property.

Including its sister brands Marianne and 579, Rainbow Shops operates more than 1,000 retail locations in 37 states and is recognized as being among the fastest-growing retailer servicing the juniors category in the United States. The Rainbow Shops clothing line includes value-priced t-shirts, hoodies, jeans, coats, skirts, dresses, swimwear and lingerie. Additional product categories features handbags, jewelry and footwear. The retailer, which also specializes in plus sizes and children’s wear, operates three store locations in the Harrisburg marketplace.

“This expansion is significant because it validates the importance of the Harrisburg Mall location and the value of our shopping environment from the perspective of a national and widely-respected retailer,” explained Bill Russell, Director of Harrisburg Mall. “The Rainbow Shops store is performing at an extremely high level and, to leverage its large and loyal base of local shoppers, is introducing an expanded children’s clothing and accessories product line. This new category complements our existing line-up of apparel, footwear and accessories within the Mall and provides consumers increased shopping options.”

Rainbow Shops is located on the second level of Harrisburg Mall near Bass Pro Shops.

Located on a 61-acre parcel on Paxton Street off Exit 45 of Interstate 83, Harrisburg Mall has approximately 70 tenants, including Aeropostale, Bath and Body Works, Champs Sports, Claire’s, Express, Foot Locker, Kay Jewelers, New York and Company, Radio Shack, Victoria’s Secret and others. Free-standing Toys “R” Us and Applebee’s are also part of the tenant mix. One anchor store, previously occupied by Boscov’s until its corporate bankruptcy in 2008, remains available for lease. The Mall received a $60 million exterior and interior renovation approximately six years ago and St. John Properties and Petrie Ross have undertaken a wide range of improvements since they purchased the mall last summer.

The population within a 10-mile radius of Harrisburg Mall exceeds 360,000 people, and includes 148,000 households with an average household income of nearly $73,000.

For more information about the joint venture partners, visit St. John Properties, Inc. at sjp.mu9b0uf9-liquidwebsites.com and Petrie Ross Ventures at www.petrieross.com.

For more information, contact:
Al Cunniff, Director of Marketing, St. John Properties, Inc.
410-369-1277