By Mike Hazlip—
Visitors to Sunrise Mall have a new technology store after Smart Tech Ready opened their doors last month.
The store focuses on mobile device cases and accessories. Shoppers looking to start a video channel can find ring lights with stands and there are headsets for gaming.
An employee who spoke with The Sentinel during a visit Monday could not give details about the company but confirmed the Sunrise Mall location had recently opened. The company’s website shows two other locations in Antioch and Brentwood.
Reviews for the company are mixed, with an average two-star rating after 16 reviews on Yelp. An LLC filed with the Secretary of State shows three owners based in Brentwood and Antioch. Social media activity for Smart Tech Ready dates to 2017.
The business is the latest store to set up shop in the aging Sunrise Mall, occupying a corner space near Macy’s South. The suite was formerly occupied by Zales Jewelry, according to the mall’s directory.
Smart Tech Ready is the latest in a number of new tenants to the mall that are not part of national chain retailers. The Sentinel previously reported five new retailers opened in the last quarter of 2021, with three of those suites now vacant.
Like many regional malls across the country, Sunrise Mall continues to see declining foot traffic and increased vacancy in a trend accelerated during the pandemic.
Related: City seeing ‘a ton of interest’ from developers in Sunrise Mall plans
The city is working to reverse that trend through a Sunrise Tomorrow plan that envisions a new mixed-use property for Sunrise Mall, with residential, hotel, entertainment, dining, and retail sectors on the 100-acre property.
The city also footed the bill for an extensive environmental impact report in an effort to clear red tape for future development. The plan is designed to be phased in over a 20-year timeline.
Sunrise Mall majority owner, Namdar Realty Group, praised the city’s efforts in a statement released last year, but little has been done to maintain the existing facilities according to tenants.