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At Towne Mall, rumors outnumber shoppers

Columnist

Wednesday, January 17, 2007

MIDDLETOWN — Woodside Cemetery may be replaced as Middletown's biggest burial ground.

The Towne Mall, once this city's crown jewel, appears to be on life support, and its owners are prepared to pull the plug.

Extras

Today, shopping at the Towne Mall — which opened in 1977 — is as fashionable as disco dancing, watching the "Mary Tyler Moore" show or listening to the Ramones and the Sex Pistols.

"This was our mall," Josh Myers, a sales clerk at Foot Locker who grew up in Middletown, said Tuesday afternoon. "Man, just look out there. There's nothing, except them walkers. It ain't been good at all. It's sad to see."

There may not be a happy ending, either. Since the beginning of the year, mall merchants have closed at alarming numbers, and many of those interviewed Tuesday said they are hoping to break their leases soon.

If you like "store closing sales," check out the Towne Mall. Bring a calculator so you can figure out your 70 percent off.

Officials at CBL and Associates Inc., a Chattanooga, Tenn.-based company that owns and operates the mall, are seeking financial assistance for a proposed $26 million face-lift. They want to convert the 465,000-square-foot shopping center on Ohio 122 into an open-air retail center. Think Bridgewater Falls in Fairfield Twp., or The Green in Beavercreek.

What is it about Middletown and its malls and roofs?

Couldn't we just put a retractable roof over the city?

Anyway, mall merchants said they're upset because of the mixed signals they've received from CBL.

Is the mall being demolished? When?

Will the mall's three anchor stores — Dillard's, Sears and Elder-Beerman — be spared from the wrecking ball?

Deborah Gibb, director of corporate communications for CBL, said Tuesday night the company is "exploring several avenues and options" for the mall, before adding: "We're committed to the mall."

Once the owners have a "clear decision," they will make a public announcement, she said.

Still, it's not good when rumors outnumber shoppers.

"Customers know more about the mall than we do," said Ted Lowman, co-owner of Fanattic's, a sports memorabilia and comic book store.

It's that uncertainty, coupled with the 11-month-old AK Steel Corp. lockout and the post-Christmas shopping lull, that has the mall cash registers signing the blues.

"They are killing our business," Woody Williams, owner of Woody Williams Vision Center, said of the owners' uncertainty. "It's just empty."

On Tuesday, Williams said three customers called with the same question: When are you closing?

You can't succeed in business if your customers lack confidence.

"They're afraid I'm going to leave," said Williams, whose lease runs through 2008. "I'm not going to leave."

If the mall closes, Williams hopes to open another office in the city.

The same may happen at Chick-Fil-A, said Darryl Autry, who manages the Towne Mall location for corporate. Chick-Fil-A is one of the mall's few success stories.

That may end soon.

"Who knows what will happen?" Autry said. "I can tell you this: Closing a store is a downer."

So is attending a funeral.

By the numbers

There are 55 potential store locations in the Towne Mall, but many are vacant.

Here is a partial list of businesses and their future in the mall.

Bamboo Garden: Closed.

Carlton Cards: Closing Feb. 28.

Cincinnati Nails: Open through January, then month-to-month.

Chick-Fil-A: Open at least through March 31.

Claire?s: Undecided.

Dillard?s: Remaining open.