While six months ago the people of St. Louis Park watched the walls of Knollwood Mall crumble, excitement currently grows as the new structure is coming to life.

Gary Roehrich is the operations manager of Knollwood Mall. He said many stores will be new to the location, but some stores are also relocating.

“By the time the mall is done, it will be 100 percent leased and we are going to have a lot of brand new tenants that have signed long-term leases,” Roehrich said. “It is going to be a growing mall for the next 10 to 15 years.”

Nordstrom Rack, Smashburger, Ulta, Noodles & Company and Panera Bread with a new drive-through are just a few of the stores opening soon. Roehrich also said there will be five additional stores coming in as well, but the names have not been released.

“We have stores from all over the country looking to get in there because it is a good mall, and it always has been,” Roehrich said.

Knollwood Mall no longer is an indoor mall as the plans include an outdoor park. Artwork and sculptures will surround the front of the mall, with wide sidewalks and grassy areas for people to congregate.

“We are trying to make it part of the community and make it nice for people to come and just enjoy their day,” Roehrich said.

Knollwood Mall is centrally located between Southdale Mall and Ridgedale Mall. St. Louis Park residents are familiar with this location as it has occupied Knollwood Mall since 1954, according to Roehrich.

“It is considered a local mall,” Roehrich said. “People in St. Louis Park have a tendency to shop where they live.”

Some of the incoming stores have a strong appeal to younger shoppers, Roehrich said.

Sophomore Hannah Ellingson said she is not a huge fashion person, but enjoys going shopping with her friends as a means of socializing.

“I think that the restaurants that they have put there and the stores that are coming in are put there to attract more teenagers,” Ellingson said.

The prospect of having new shops and restaurants that do not require a lot of travel is ideal, according to Ellingson.

“To have something that is close that will have good stores is exciting,” Ellingson said.

The addition of the new stores and restaurants with an updated look and layout attracts shoppers from across the Twin Cities. Roehrich said he expects Knollwood Mall to regain its popularity and appeal from several years ago.

“It is going to be a tremendous draw for the entire city and the surrounding areas,” Roehrich said.

Roehrich expects Knollwood Mall to reach completion by May of 2015.