A quintet of new businesses is set to join the ranks at Dubuque’s Kennedy Mall, including a new department store.
Mall owner Cafaro Co. on Monday announced the new stores, all of which are expected to open by the end of the year. The ventures represent a combined 75,000 square feet of newly leased space across the mall.
“I can’t recall the last time we had this many businesses ready to open their doors within just a couple months of each other,” said Joe Bell, Cafaro Co. director of corporate communications. “That’s a very good sign for Kennedy Mall.”
The largest addition will be World Earth Superstore, a 66,000-square foot, two-level department store expected to open in the former Younkers space near Planet Fitness and The Fun Station. It will be owned by Irvin Johnson, of Durango, Iowa, who already operates World Earth Minerals and This & That at the mall.
The new store will include a selection of men and women’s apparel, furniture, decor, cosmetics and more. It also will have a coffee bar and candy shop, as well as a large selection of kids toys and entertainment.
“It’s basically a family store,” Johnson said. “We have a little bit of everything for anybody, and it’s at (discounted) prices that they can afford.”
World Earth Superstore is expected to open in December, though Johnson said some of the larger amenities will be added over time. World Earth Minerals and This & That will continue to operate in their current storefronts in addition to the superstore.
Bell said Johnson’s newest venture is exactly the kind of thing Cafaro likes to see from its tenants.
“This is an offshoot from an entrepreneur who already has a presence in the mall who is … taking the opportunity to take a (vacant) space and turn it into something a little different,” Bell said. “I’m excited to see what he does with it.”
In addition to the department store, the mall also stands to gain two new food and beverage options.
Exotic Snack Guys will open in October in a 2,700-square-foot space adjacent to Dick’s Sporting Goods. The Chicago-based business has nine locations across the Midwest and Texas and offers unique snacks and treats from around the globe.
Bubbles Boba Tea will open the same month next to Shoe Carnival. It is one of the first Bubbles Boba Tea franchise locations in Iowa and will serve a variety of boba tea and other beverages, as well as flatbreads, salads and wraps.
Owner Jen Hart said Dubuque seemed like a good fit for the boba tea business because of its relative proximity to her Quad Cities location and the excitement and support from Kennedy Mall personnel.
“It seems like post-COVID there has been this big revival to the whole mall concept, and now seemed like a good time to test those waters,” Hart said. “… We’re hoping to offer a bubble tea experience that everyone can enjoy.”
In November, two beauty stores will join the mix at Kennedy Mall. Perfume Aura will open near center court to offer a variety of perfumes and colognes, and D’Or24K will occupy the space next to Hibbett Sports to sell premium cosmetics, skin care and anti-aging products.
Bell credited Cafaro’s leasing teams with keeping their “ears to the ground” to ensure the attraction of new clients to Kennedy Mall, adding that the five new stores will be major contributors to efforts to revitalize the shopping center.
Moving forward, he said Cafaro is focused on further meeting customers’ demands as it works to fill the mall’s remaining vacancies.
He also stressed the company’s interest in adding new food and beverage options and outlined plans for the possible development of standalone buildings on mall-adjacent properties for use by local businesses and/or chain restaurants.
“There’s a great demand from people in the community for different types of dining experiences, so we’re going to put some concerted effort to see what we can do in that arena (in 2025),” he said.