With three new recent additions, Lilac Mall looks to make a comeback

A pair of shoppers leave after browsing Label $hopper at the Lilac Mall on Saturday. (Rochester Voice photo)

ROCHESTER - If you didn't look at the sign on the entrance you might almost think you were traveling back in time to when the former south anchor store at the Lilac Mall was JCPenney still doing the longest good bye.

"Label $hopper is laid out almost the same way," said one happy shopper who said the prices were even better than the former retailer.

Business was brisk when we visited the store on Saturday, with a half dozen or so customers waiting in line at the check-out.

Label $hopper, a division of Peter Harris Clothes, is a discount retail chain that has chosen Rochester as the location for its first store in the Granite State. They also have several in Maine.

"We are very happy to have Label Shopper open their first store in New Hampshire here at the Lilac Mall," said Leeann Conrad, Lilac Mall manager. "They will be a good fit for Rochester and surrounding communities. Everyone loves name brand apparel at such great prices."

Conrad said she spoke with several customers on opening day last week and they all said the same thing.

Another retailer, Metal Heads, which sells apparel, metal fire pits made at their own workshop and other merchandise, also recently opened, and Country Essentials, which formerly had a store on the south end of the mall before moving to Hanson Street for a year or so, is also returning and will be open soon.

According to the store's Facebook page, they expect to return to the mall on June 21.