Dennis Allen

Former Marketing Director at the Mall

By the time I got to Mall of Memphis, I had a pretty solid background in radio, advertising and Mall Marketing.

I began my adult career as a DJ, working in small and medium markets. Tired of moving, I got into advertising with an ad agency that had some shopping center clients. I thought "hey, I can do that" so I left the agency and joined Coliseum Mall in Hampton, Virginia. From there I went on to market malls in Mission Viejo (California), Oklahoma City and Independence, MO.

In 1983, The Hahn Company hired me and I oversaw Marketing at Fashion Show mall, Las Vegas. There, I was lucky enough to win a few advertising awards. After a few years Hahn transferred me to Mall of Memphis. I replaced a Marketing Director I believe was Susie Marcus.

As I mentioned in the Visitor's Stories section, I had a great time at the Mall. We were lucky enough to receive a few Hahn Company awards for Sales Performance and Advertising. And, while definitely NOT a conflict of interest (very few people knew at the time..but my bosses approved beforehand), I was also a weekend DJ at K97. I was the only "white" talent working at the (then) number one station in Memphis. Bragging, I had the number one rating on Saturdays 10am to 2pm.

I lived east of Hickory Ridge mall...so long ago I can't recall the street. We rented when we first got there and then bought a home in the same area about a year later. I was married then with two children. I golfed a lot at Fox Meadows and did volunteer work at the PGA Tour tournament when it was at the Colonial Country Club. It was in Memphis I learned the difference between "wet" and "dry" ribs (I prefer wet..lol).

Hahn dangled a huge carrot called Bridgewater Commons, a mall almost 20 years in the making. Located in New Jersey, it was to be Hahn's East Coast flagship. I couldn't pass up the high profile position and reluctantly left Memphis. After Grand Opening Bridgewater, I went on to begin the Marketing campaign for the redevelopment of Hahn's Towson Town Center (Baltimore area). There I won my second Maxi (International Council of Shopping Center International Marketing award).

I was offered a Regional marketing position with DeBartolo, so I left Hahn and began overseeing 12 malls in the upper mid-west. I had some great people Marketing each of the malls and we scored quite a few Marketing/Advertising awards. I left them after 7 years and began a different kind of career focus with Norwegian Cruise Lines. I remained with them for 6 years.

I am "semi-retired" now, back living in Las Vegas and working for a very large Hotel-Casino. I have nothing to do with advertising any more except I might do an occasional radio commercial "voice-over".