A recent survey released to the public in June has supplied the Government Employees Retirement System (GERS) with much-needed feedback that will inform the revitalization efforts of Havensight Shopping Mall.
On June 30, 1993, GERS acquired the Havensight Shopping Mall, a 14-acre investment, from the West Indian Company (WICO) for $32 million. After the acquisition, WICO continued to manage the property until 2020, when GERS assumed full control of operations.
After news broke in 2023 that Haven Developments, in partnership with Hilton, would be establishing a Hampton by Hilton Hotel in Havensight, the GERS team saw an opportunity to completely revamp the Havensight product and reimagine the Havensight experience for both locals and visitors alike.
“We have discovered through time that tourists are more interested in experiential destinations. We offer retail which is great, and some dining and entertainment opportunities, but we really want to expand our experiential offerings at Havensight,” said Angel Dawson, administrator of GERS.
“This is why we sent the survey out. We wanted to get input from visitors and locals so we could understand what they would like to glean from the Havensight experience. We had a few concepts that we were able to test with the survey and the responses have really guided us in the new direction of the mall. One of the questions had to do with possible new names for the mall. We don’t find that the term “mall” is a fitting name for Havensight. We believe we can use something more organic and authentic for the location. We expect a renaming in our very near future,” Dawson added.
With over 1600 responses to the survey, the GERS team believes they have a clear picture of what the public desires for the space. “In the survey we sent out we shared a few ideas of some of the experiences we were considering including a rum tasting and pirate themed splash pad, but one thing we can say for sure that is gonna be happening is the creation of a public park that will also host our visitor center. This space is intended to be inviting for both visitors and residents. It’ll be our prime entertainment venue, similar to Central Park in New York City,” Dawson said.
“We are planning to dedicate the park to the Coal Women who were responsible for supplying coal to the steamships that were docking in our port. They are commemorated annually with the Dollar fo’ Dollar History Tour which celebrates the Coal Women’s efforts in staging a labor strike that ultimately led to higher wages for the workers. They are our ancestors and we felt it appropriate to honor them at that site. In addition, we will also be erecting a monument in their honor that will be placed in the park for the public to enjoy,” Dawson said.
In addition to the development of a public park, other ideas for experiential opportunities abound including an artisan market where vendors have an opportunity to display their handmade products and live demonstrations of traditional skills including woodturning and basket making.
“I think a big part of the experiences we want to cultivate are those that are connected to our culture and heritage, whether it’s with a show kitchen with someone demonstrating how to make johnny cake or Sweet Bread or even a walkthrough of the park where visitors can learn about the story of the Coal Women. We want to make it a place that people always want to visit because there will always be something new to see, said Asiah Clendinen Gumbs, chief operating officer of GERS.
“We want people to feel that they are in a place with a people who have a culture of their own. We want to differentiate ourselves from all the other places who promote sun, sand, and sea. Its about showcasing our local culture organically and giving people an experience of a lifetime,” Dawson concluded.
