Retail Reality, a developer from St. Louis, built the mall last year and filled the tenants.
Students are still undecided about the new stores in town.
CATO, a women's clothing store for juniors and misses, builds in mid-sized towns. Store manager Sara Goodman said the business is building stores in the west because business is better there. Most CATO stores are within a 30-mile radius of a college or university. Goodman said CATO worked with the University Career Center to find students interested in working there. Hibbett Sports also targets small towns.