New Concord shopping center opens despite national retail trend

CONCORD, Calif. (KGO) -- A brand new shiny shopping complex is opening in Concord just as U.S. retailers are closing more stores going into 2018.

What do shoppers seem to like about the Veranda, a new shopping center located just across Interstate 680 from the Sun Valley Mall?

They say they love the fact that it's clean, fresh, new and modern. There are 10 new theaters, an ice rink and a fountain with an hourly light show.

General Manager Ashton Simmons says people tell him they feel "like I'm in Vegas, I am in Rockefeller Center with the ice rink and I'm in the East Bay in Concord."

Concord is bucking a national trend. According to a study by Fong global retail and tech, U.S. retailers announced plans to close almost 7,000 stores in 2017 compared to only 3,400 store openings.

So the city is celebrating the new additional retail space.

Concord Mayor Edi Birsan says "if we add more services to our community we have more happy people. So, all in all, it's a win win win. This is the first major development since 1973. "

The new Veranda center is expected to generate as much is $800,000 in sales tax revenue in its first year.