Surf and children's shops to open at Shops at Riverwoods in Provo

PROVO (Deseret News) — The Shops at Riverwoods, which was seized by a bank last year in a foreclosure proceeding, has new owners who want to transform it into a modern, hip, pedestrian-friendly mall.

The new owners, a group of local investors called Tigriswoods LLC, are about to break ground on an eight-week construction project that will make the mall 100-percent pedestrian, eliminating the drive-through sections on the east and north ends of the mall.

Outdoor heaters, seating areas, water and fire features and a stage area for entertainment will be built in the space around the mall.

A reception center will open at the end of May for events such as corporate meetings and wedding receptions. A handful of new tenants also are moving in.

"The Shops at Riverwoods is transforming itself into a hot, new destination, and big changes are under way," mall manager Jeremy Blickenstaff said in a prepared statement. "Large equipment rolls in soon as the center will begin to transform into a pedestrian-only shopping, dining and entertainment center."

Tigriswoods bought what was Utah's first open-air mall from Bank of America last fall for an undisclosed amount.

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