WEST PARK MALL SPACE IS FULLY OCCUPIED

There's no more room at the mall. West Park Mall's available space is 100 percent leased for the first time in its 18-year history, which means consumers will have access to a total of 106 retail outlets at the mall this holiday season."We're gearing up for what we believe will be our best holiday season yet," said Jim Govro, general manager of the Westfield Shoppingtown facility near Interstate 55 and Route K.Twenty-one special holiday tenants will join the 85 year-round stores in the mall for the holiday shopping season. This includes the three large anchor stores: Famous-Barr, JCPenney and ShopKo."This amount of stores is a record for the mall," said Joyce Hunter, marketing director. Among new holiday stores and services this year are:* Mailboxes & Parcel Depot, where shoppers can pack and immediately ship their purchases.* Wilson's Leather, featuring leather fashions.* Dippin' Dots, offering frozen yogurt treats.* Holiday Happenings, a Christmas and gift specialty shop.

Other holiday operations include Hickory Farms, MoonShadow Designs, Plantation Silver Co., Artic Fleece, Made on Earth, and Playgrounds.

Most of the new holiday stores will be in operation by Monday, said Hunter. "They'll remain in through Dec. 31 or longer."Some Christmas merchandise already can be observed at West Park Mall, which will hold its official "Westfield Work Wonders" promotion Nov. 21, a few days before the day-after-Thanksgiving sales season.

The Nov. 21 event is good for retailers and consumers, said Hunter. "It gives retailers an opportunity to present their merchandise and allows consumers a chance to get an early holiday preview."Complimentary Kiddie Kruzzer strollers and wheelchairs are available at the customer service center in the JCPenney wing.

Westfield Shoppingtown West Park Mall is one of 38 centers owned by Westfield America Inc., which owns regional shopping centers. Westfield Shoppingtowns are home to more than 4,600 specialty stores and serve 10 percent of the U.S. population. The company has 34.6 million square feet of leasable space in eight states.

More space will be available in that previously occupied by the Four-Cine movie theater down the ShopKo wing.