Maurices keeps humming while Conestoga Marketplace takes shape

While it has been located in different areas of the mall over the years, the store has been at its current location for 11 years. It is now preparing to move once again, this time with an exterior storefront at the developing Conestoga Marketplace.

Maurices has been a long-standing store in the Grand Island community, offering a diverse range of women’s clothing. Tasha Morton, district trainer and store leader, says she is ls looking forward to the future of the Conestoga Marketplace and is maintaining a positive outlook regarding the ongoing construction.

“We’re really excited,” Morton said. “I think there was a lot of negativity in the community to start and I think balancing that out with just shopping is fun. (People) come here to shop and feel good so (we’re) ensuring them that’s what we’re here to do.”

Maurices started as a company in 1931 and was originally a men’s clothing store named after the owner, Maurice. Today, Maurices offers a wide variety of women’s clothing from sizes 0-24, including footwear, accessories and professional attire.

“(Jeans) are a huge part of our business,” Morton said. “We actually have a lot more dressy clientele now with no Dillard’s or things like that in the area. Teachers make up a strong segment of our shoppers.”

Looking towards the holiday season, Morton shared a little about what’s to come with Maurices in the near future.

“We have a whole line-up of what’s called ‘party pants’ coming. So, lots of shine, sheer, sparkle, very texture-related instead of pattern-driven. I think it will be really fun,” she said.

Maurices has expanded its product range and now has a line specifically for girls in the pre-teen age group. The line provides a wide selection of options for this demographic.

“Our girls line is pre-teen, and it fits sizes 7-14. I think it’s modest for that age group where a lot of them are in crop tops and things like that, but moms definitely love what we have,” Morton said.

For those deterred by the construction, online shopping is another option that is available to the Maurices shopper.

“This part of Nebraska is one of our biggest hubs at Maurices for online shopping,” Morton said. “For us, it works really well but online shopping is still only 20 percent of our overall business as a company. Our stores are still definitely driving it. Clothes are hard online. You can buy a toaster online no problem, but it’s not going to be the same with jeans.”

Through the ongoing construction, Morton wants the public to know the shopping experience is still the same as it’s always been.

“I think the experience has stayed the same for the (shoppers) who are still coming,” she said. “I think all of the stores in here are still offering great fashion. They’re still offering a shopping experience. I think most of the retailers who are here have been positive about the change, which I think has made an impact.”

The Conestoga Marketplace renovations include an exterior entrance that Maurices has not had in Grand Island before. Morton says she is excited about the change and what that opportunity means for the store.

“I think you know your customers a lot better when they’re coming in for you,” she said. “That relationship-building piece is always there then and (shopping) is just more fun when you’re comfortable and you know who you’re going to be shopping with.”

Construction is currently underway on the northeast side of the building, where the frames for the Conestoga Marketplace storefronts are being built. Presently, there are more visual indicators of what is to come and where the stores will be located.

Additionally, concrete has been poured on the northeast side, which will serve as the parking lot for that particular area of the building.

Looking towards the southeast side of the building, the area that used to be occupied by Younkers is being torn down. Demolition has begun on the east side of the building leaving the south entrance accessible to shoppers.

While these changes are taking place, the Maurices team says it is eagerly looking forward to the future with the Conestoga Marketplace. In the meantime, Morton wants the community to know Maurices is still here for them.

“We’re here. We offer the same great fashion that we always have,” she said. “We have a great team who loves to help people. They want to make people feel good and the in-store experience is still the same even though outside the store is maybe a little bit different.”

Maurices is open on the south side of the mall and follows mall hours: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday.