Atlantic Ave Magazine April 2019

THE BIG APPLE SHOPPING BAZAAR
A New Mini-Mall
By Diane Feen | Photos by melissa korman
The Big Apple Shopping Bazaar has always held a certain allure to
shoppers in Delray Beach. And why not? They have boutiques and
businesses that sell the most diverse collection of products – from card
games to wigs, shoes, fine jewelry, prescription eyewear and more.
For the past 30 years it’s been a landmark shopping experience.
But the new reincarnation of this 35,000-square-footshopping
Mecca has retail shops, a café, a tailor, hair salon
and an inspiring new retail concept.
The former flea market is now a state-of-the-art Mini-Mall. This
exciting new concept is the brainchild of Chad L. Ruggiere, a marketing
maven who has scaled the heights of corporate marketing
and branding.
His vision is now being implemented – and the sweep and scope
is ambitious. The Big Apple Shopping Bazaar is being transformed
into“The Big Apple Jewelry Exchange, Shopping Bazaar and Salon
& Spa Suites.”
“We have transformed this popular shopping destination into Delray
Beach’s first Mini-Mall. This 35,000-square-foot retail destination
will house a new Jewelry Exchange and Salon & Spa, as well as
the existing array of over 65 one-of-a-kind specialty shops. Delray
Beach’s Mini-Mall has over 300 parking spaces and a beautiful Disney-esque
interior reminiscent of the streets of New York,” said VP of
Business Development and Marketing,Ruggiere.
With large malls facing the decline of merchants and customers,
this new Mini-Mall offers the beauty of diversity with the intimacy of
a smaller slice of retail wizardry. There will be 50 jewelry showrooms
at one end of the Mini-Mall and a Salon & Spa Suite at the other end.
But there is another retail component that makes this more state
of the art, than state of mind. That’s because they are taking each
retailer – or vendor – into their diverse marketing umbrella. There is
an on-premises IT department (Information Technology) as well as a
Sales and Marketing Department to make sure retailers and vendors
get a steady flow of new business.
“We don’t just give you the keys and say good luck,” said Ruggiere.
“We are helping each merchant build and market their brand
through social media with content, postings and videos. We are also
designing and creating websites and landing pages to drive traffic
online and directly into each storefront within the Big Apple.”
That’s only part of the good news. All new tenants will get their
first three months’ rent free when they sign a lease, and everyone
will get marketing and branding expertise from Ruggiere and their
marketing department and IT experts.
The depth and breadth of this new concept – that will include
an upscale food court with beer and wine – will include fashion
64 | April 2019 | www.AtlanticAveMagazine.com