SHOP 'TIL YOU DROP
Rushmore Mall reinvents itself to attract new shops
The Ink Gallery
by Siandhara Bonnet, Rapid City Journal Staff / Photos by Grace Pritchett
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bout 20 businesses found a home at Rushmore Mall in 2020, many of which opened their doors in the final months of the year. Rushmore Mall general manager Sandy Brockhouse said the mall is changing with the times and will continue that in 2021. “We try to think outside the box of malls in general. We are reinventing ourselves,” she said. Brockhouse wants the mall to be like a community center that offers amenities like the dog park and services like those offered by the Social Security Administration office, which is open by appointment only during the pandemic. Brockhouse said the mall closed for a month due to COVID-19 but all stores are open now and there's still space available to lease. “We didn’t get hit as hard as other states and communities,” she said. “I think you can attribute that to just the great people in our community who still support all of our local businesses.” Mountain Mudd Coffee and Espresso is just one of the newest additions to Rushmore Mall along with Barbed Wire and Lace, and Chuck Wagon. “We have forthcoming leases that are hopefully going to be coming soon,” Brockhouse said. “We’re ready to get 2020 over with — we’re ready for the new year.” elevaterapidcity.com 9
