During a time when many malls are struggling, the Western Mall in Sioux Falls is now full. That hasn’t happened in years.

Here’s a look at the mall’s strategy.

In just a few weeks you could be enjoying a drink at Prairie Berry Winery and Miner Brewing Co. The business is moving from downtown Sioux Falls to the Western Mall.

“We’re excited to change direction a little bit,” Director of Sales and Marketing Angela Avila said.

The business will no longer have a restaurant, just snacks and drinks. You’ll also be able to watch the brewers at work.

“We’re going to have an experimental brewing system where we’ll test out some beers and do fun classes and things of that nature,” Avila said.

A retail center along Western Avenue is also considered part of the Western Mall. Nothing Bundt Cakes is moving into the only open space at the mall.

“To have that many spaces and have it 100 percent occupied is really exciting,” Leasing Agent Raquel Blount said.

The 550,000 square foot facility includes everything from SCHEELS and furniture stores to a movie theater and threading studio. That variety is what malls across the country are striving for as more people shop online.

“Really when you think about it, The Western Mall has been doing that for 10 years,” Blount said.

Blount is the leasing agent for the mall. She says it’s important to be flexible–offering space for people to walk and converting some of the space to offices.

“It helps your retailers because you have people who are on site every day,” Blount said.

More people and more businesses, which Prairie Berry hopes will brew up more customers.

“We’re confident this location is going to serve us well,” Avila said.

Prairie Berry hasn’t set an official opening date yet, but it will be sometime in September.

