MUSCATINE, Iowa — Construction and change is in full swing at the Muscatine Mall as the holiday shopping period arrives.

Toni Klaren, the mall’s general manager, said ongoing changes and renovations shouldn’t significantly affect shoppers — except for the fact that there’s now more to do and more things to shop for.

With the newly added locations, Stuff A Buddy, Namco Arcade and Sylvia’s Mexican Restaurant, shoppers will find more variety at the mall. Temporary holiday tenants such as Nick’s Hobbies (sports memorabilia) and Nate’s Wire Craft  (handmade jewelry) are other   attractions.

Occupancy in the mall has improved to around 50 percent.

 Meanwhile,  Muscatine Mall Management LLC, a regional group of businessmen that bought the mall in July, is progressing with an estimated $4 million in renovations, including a new roof, facade, signage and lighting.

Thursday, workers on scaffolding were busy doing the facelift on the mall’s exterior.

Inside, Hazel Green, owner of Hazel Green Bridal and Tux, could hear the men on the rooftop working. The noise didn’t bother her because she expects to reap some benefits.

“They haven’t done much inside, but the outside is looking better already,” she said Tuesday afternoon. “They (the new owners) are doing a great job, and I expect them to follow through with what they told us they’d do.”

One difference shoppers will see on the inside is festive holiday décor, Santa’s castle and more shoppers, according to Klaren. She says things have been picking up over the past two weeks and she expects shopper turnout to get even better as the season progresses.

Contact Melissa Regennitter at 563-263-2331, Ext. 317, or mregennitter@muscatinejournal.com