2024's Top 10 Retail Center Experiences: No. 5 Promenade Saucon Valley
Fifty miles north of Philadelphia, a mother duck gave birth to nine adorable ducklings in a flower pot on the grounds of an open-air mall. It generated 65,000 social media views.
“Promemama,” the nickname given to the duck, became a sensation at Promenade Saucon Valley and highlighted one of the 450,000-sq. ft. property’s most alluring attributes. Nestled in a stunning mountainside setting, the center’s main street strives to maintain the downtown-style setting of yesteryear with up-close parking, old-fashioned streetlamps, and water fountains.
“When I visited the property for the first time in the spring, I was immediately overtaken by the incredibly lush surrounding area and the topography,” said Whitney Livingston, president of Dallas-based Centennial, which has managed Saucon Valley since 2022. “Everything that you hear about this project and the mountainside setting, the greenery, and the trees ... it’s just magical.”
Each year, Promenade Saucon Valley hosts more than 50 events. “Party at the Patio” offers live entertainment, food, and drinks each month from June through August. Its Barktoberfest (it’s a dog-friendly property) and Tree Lighting Ceremony each draw more than 8,000 attendees.
Since taking over at the center, Centennial has implemented several strategies designed to extend its guests to stay longer and return more often.
•Bar Louie has led the nighttime charge, staying open until 2 a.m. for late-night dining and socializing. Other restaurants on the property remain open until 11.
• Promenade Saucon Valley gained approval from township officials to host “Sip & Shop” events allowing guests to enjoy alcoholic beverages while strolling the center.
• The Turning Point restaurant opens at 7:00 a.m. and Starbucks opens at 8:00 a.m. to cater to dogwalkers out early on the center’s walking path.
Ample seating and relaxation areas have been placed throughout the center, which provides property-wide WiFi and a shaded patio area, and shades were installed over the amphitheater seating in its Town Square.
New food-and-beverage options that have debuted at Promenade Saucon Valley over the past few years include Batch Micro Creamery, Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls, the Great Greek Mediterranean Grill, and Turning Point, which quickly became a diner’s hotspot. The restaurant reported its highest opening week for any of its Pennsylvania locations and the second-highest for the company to date.
Centennial reports that traffic increased by 7.3% at Promenade Saucon Valley in 2022 and by 8.5% in 2023 since it took over operation of the center.
“Adding activations and music provided the back-beat for a new rhythm in the center,” said Livingston. “Before, people were going there just to shop, but it only takes one visit to blend in to the new environment.”
Promenade Saucon Valley joins CSA's other 2024 Top Retail Experiences: