Great Lakes Mall has not been remodeled since the 1980s, and Renee Lanzara admits, "It looks like it."

"It's been a long time since we've done anything, and we need to keep up with the times," she said.

The mall will finally receive a major makeover this year. The renovations will include:

• a redesigned, two-story glass entranceway into the food court with an extended paved walkway
• a new entrance on the mall's west side
• a renovated food court with new landscaping, lighting and banquette seating
• redesigns of the mall's three existing mall entrances with new lighting and landscape features
• seating areas throughout the mall for comfort and convenience
• new flooring, which includes both ceramic tile and carpet in the hallways and courts of all department stores.
• new earth-tone color scheme throughout the mall
•  slimmer columns to improve shoppers' line of sight
• new directional signs in the mall and new exterior signs and landscaping outside  
• relocating the guest services booth to the center court
• and new retail units in the common area.

Lanzara, the mall's director of marketing and business development, said the renovation will begin in mid-April and be finished by November this year.

Lanzara joined the mall team in August, but she said the renovation was planned for years.

"We were looking at a renovation of the property in 2008; but, with the economy, plans were put on hold," she said.

Law Company Inc. will oversee construction and LawKingdon Architecture did the design work.

The renovations will not affect the mall's hours. Construction will be done after shopping hours.

"Shoppers will come in one day and say, 'Oh, the restrooms have been redone' or 'There's new furniture in the food court.' They'll be able to see our improvements as they're made," Lanzara said.

People can also follow the mall's progress on its Facebook page and Twitter feed.

The renovation will be paid for by Simon Property Group, the mall's owner, and will not be subsidized by the city.

Lanzara would not say how much Simon Property Group plans to spend on the renovation, only that it is "a whole lot of money."

The mall's renovation coincides with its 50th anniversary.