WICHITA FALLS, Texas (KAUZ) - In late January, local students began working on a survey to revamp Sikes Senter Mall. Since that time, over 1,100 people have filled out the survey and that helped the students identify common wants from the community.

The WFISD Career Education Center Business English class reported the findings of their survey to the mall’s management. Senior student Shayla Breedlove said that the community wants more stores in the mall as well as a reimagining of the food court.

“We mainly wanted some better stores like some higher end stores and some lower income stores so we can have a wide range of everything. We really wanted a large food court cause our food court there is nothing there,” Breedlove said.

In addition to the survey results, senior students Zy’Lane Kimbel and Jaeden Del Rio wanted to find a way to integrate the culture of Wichita Falls into the mall’s identity and transform it into a must-see tourist destination. They said they plan to do that by naming parts of the mall after notable local landmarks.

“We wanted to put like a mini falls in the mall to take pictures against because I feel like it’s important to have something from our city,” Kimbel said.

“We also suggested to name a couple of the hallways after the schools so like Memorial and Legacy. Then we had Shepherd, Silver and Midwestern. [It’s] just something to like, kind of give it some character,” Del Rio said.

The students believe that mall management was receptive to the data they provided. Although not everything will be implemented, Jaeden said they are hopeful management will do what they can.

“There were a lot of good ideas throughout and obviously, they can’t do everything. I do think they’re going to try their best to incorporate as much as they can into the mall. I hope that they at least give us some variety and options as far as stores and food and just things to do at the mall,” Del Rio said.