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Community Corner

Egg-citing Springtime Festivities at The Shops at Mission Viejo

Simon Property Group, Inc. (NYSE:SPG), a global leader in retail real estate, is hosting its annual Easter celebration festivities at The Shops at Mission Viejo, offering families the chance to participate in both traditional and unique seasonal events. 

The Bunny Photo Experience begins Saturday, March 22 and runs through April 19 on the center’s lower level, near Nordstrom. Kids will have the chance to visit with the Bunny and take home a treasured snapshot of the fun occasion. Visit www.facebook.com/events/255388734631932/ for a complete list of dates and times.

The presenting sponsor for the 2014 Bunny Photo Experience is Gymboree.

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“We love to hold family-friendly events at The Shops at Mission Viejo and we always look forward to watching children interact with the Bunny at Easter,” said Patsy Sanquist, director of marketing and business development at The Shops at Mission Viejo.  

The Shops at Mission Viejo’s Caring Bunny™ event, a first at the center, will offer families that have children with special needs a subdued environment to participate in the Bunny Photo Experience. Caring Bunny has been developed by SPG and is guided by AbilityPath.org, a national online resource hub and special needs community. Over 80 Simon® properties will host the Caring Bunny this season.

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On Sunday, April 13, from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., many steps will be taken to reduce sensory triggers, creating a more comforting environment for children’s cherished visit with the Bunny. The subdued environment is likely to include (specific elements or aesthetics may vary):
  • Turning off in-mall music, stopping escalators located near the photo set, dimming the lights and shutting down fountains for the duration of the event.
  • Eliminating queue lines through the use of a numbering system whereby guests approach the set when their number is called.
  • Special activities geared toward the needs of the child during the ‘wait’ period to help the child understand what activities will occur during the visit.

The Simon Kidgits Club® will also host a special Kidgits Easter Eggsrtavaganza event on Saturday, April 5, from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. on the lower level, near Forever 21. Kids can participate in various activities and games including crafts courtesy of the retailers of The Shops at Mission Viejo, entertainment from The Best Bubble Parties and a special visit from the Easter Bunny.  The Bubble show starts at approximately 8:45 a.m. and the Easter Bunny will visit with children around 9:30 a.m. Participants will receive a Kidgits® Easter bucket and Kidgits bunny ears as a keepsake to take home. 

The Simon Kidgits Club is a fun and informative program that focuses on health, wellness, education, safety and entertainment for children ages 3-8.  The Simon Kidgits Club has kept children and parents alike amused for over a decade with various events and activities while providing incentives for club members, such as special offers, rewards and games.

For more information about the Simon Kidgits Club and The Shops at Mission Viejo’s Easter events, visit The Shops at Mission Viejo on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ShopsAtMissionViejo, Twitter at https://twitter.com/ShopsMV or Instagram at http://instagram.com/ShopsMV/ 

About The Shops at Mission Viejo

Among the 150 stores and restaurants at The Shops at Mission Viejo, this indoor mall features Nordstrom, H&M, Macy's, Apple, Sephora, and The Cheesecake Factory. Home to Farrell's Ice Cream Parlour, Paradise Bakery and Microsoft, recognized by the OC Register's 2013 People's Choice Awards for "best ice cream," "best cookie," and "best tech store" respectively, The Shops at Mission Viejo serves many nearby communities such as Ladera Ranch, Rancho Santa Margarita, Coto de Caza, San Juan Capistrano and the city of Mission Viejo. The Shops at Mission Viejo is conveniently located at the intersection of the I-5 and Crown Valley Parkway in the city of Mission Viejo. With over 150 stores and restaurants, The Shops at Mission Viejo is south Orange County's main shopping destination. For a map and store listings, as well as directions, events and job listings, visit http://www.simon.com/mall/the-shops-at-mission-viejo or call 949-364-1771.

About Simon Property Group

Simon Property Group, Inc. (NYSE: SPG) is an S&P 100 company and a global leader in the retail real estate industry.  The Company currently owns or has an interest in more than 325 retail real estate properties in North America, Asia and Europe comprising approximately 243 million square feet. We are headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana and employ approximately 5,500 people in the U.S.  For more information, visit the Simon Property Group website at www.simon.com.

About Simon Brand Ventures

Simon Brand Ventures (SBV), Simon's business-to-consumer arm, is pioneering the transformation of shopping centers into a medium where consumer brands can build relationships with Simon shoppers who make over 2.8 billion visits each year.  Simon's vast franchise of market-leading shopping centers nationwide provides SBV the foundation to monetize the distribution system through numerous consumer ventures. SBV and its affiliates have engaged in a number of consumer business initiatives, including the Simon Visa Giftcard® and the American Express®/Simon Giftcard; launch of Simon platform programs such as Simon dTour Live® and Simon Kidgits Club®; a national media delivery channel including static, digital and experiential marketing and advertising vehicles; and multiple national and local marketing alliances with Coca-Cola and Visa U.S.A. among others.

About AbilityPath.org

AbilityPath.org is an online hub and special needs community for parents and professionals to learn, connect and live a more balanced life. The website combines social networking features with expert content from AbilityPath.org’s team of educators, parents, therapists and medical professionals.AbilityPath.org was created by Community Gatepath, a nonprofit with over 90 years of experience serving families and children with special needs by fostering hope, dignity and independence. AbilityPath.org may also be found on Facebook and Twitter.

About The Gymboree Corporation

The Gymboree Corporation is a specialty retailer operating stores selling high-quality apparel and accessories for children under the Gymboree, Gymboree Outlet, Janie and Jack, and Crazy 8 brands, as well as play programs for children under the Gymboree Play and Music brand. 

About Gymboree Retail Stores

Gymboree has been dressing children since 1986. The brand's fashionable clothing and accessories are created to celebrate kids being kids in unique head-to-toe looks. Available in sizes newborn to 12 years, Gymboree clothing is designed with colorful, high-quality fabrics and detailed touches throughout. Gymboree currently operates 631 stores in the U.S. and Canada and we continue to expand internationally. You can also visit us anytime from everywhere at www.gymboree.com.

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