Burlington will lease space formerly occupied by Dillard’s at 3455 Towne Blvd., said George Ragheb, one of the investors behind the California group, SA Mary Ohio LLC, that bought the mall in October 2012. Dillard’s department store closed in 2008.
“Burlington will bring a new strong anchor tenant to the mall that will bring foot traffic, that will show viability of the center,” Ragheb said. “We already have several other leases that we are negotiating and that we are going to finalize and announce before the end of 2014.”
The new store will create 50 to 100 new jobs and will be one of 20 Burlington locations in Ohio, according to New Jersey-based Burlington Stores Inc.
“We are thrilled to open a new Burlington in the Middletown community, bringing even more jobs to the neighborhood and providing local residents with a valued shopping experience,” Tom Kingsbury, president and chief executive officer of the discount clothing retailer, said in a statement.
Currently Towne Mall, located near the city’s Ohio 122 interchange with Interstate 75, sits half empty.
Under the new ownership, 11 small businesses opened from 2012 to 2013. However, some of those same businesses have since closed such as Wigs for A Change and Home Connection.
Storefronts to announce closing plans this year include Worthmore Clothes Shop, Finish Line, Kay Jewelers and Game-Lan(d) & PCs.
“I did move out, and I think it’s great that Burlington Coat Factory is moving in,” said Melody Palmer, owner of All About You Catering. The Middletown catering and bakery business opened a storefront at the mall in February 2013. While the storefront closed within the last month, All About You Catering will move back to a test kitchen and remain open regardless.
“I hope the Towne Mall does really well,” Palmer said. “We’ll just wait and see.”
Remaining Towne Mall tenants include Elder-Beerman, Miss Selby’s Soap, Bath & Body Works, Rogers Jewelers and others.
“We have been losing some of the smaller mall tenants over the past few months as people didn’t think we were realistic in our development plans. However, this proves our commitment to the project and to the community,” Ragheb, the mall owner, said.
“We are very excited about our signed lease with Burlington,” Ragheb said. “We are confident they will be successful in the mall and with their strong presence, many tenants will follow as Burlington is a very strong leader and a very reputable retailer.”
“They bring a good product mix for the consumer in this local demographic,” he said.
Meanwhile, there were more walkers — a group meets regularly to walk laps around the enclosed mall — than shoppers at the beleaguered mall on Tuesday. Metal gates over vacant fronts outnumber the dozen stores with inhabitants within. Diane McRoberts of Lebanon was there with her grandson to see if his favorite sports store is still open. It wasn’t.
She hasn’t been to the mall in years and her jaw dropped as she surveyed the shuttered shops. She isn’t sure Burlington can save the mall.
“I’m amazed; there’s nothing here,” she said. “Something needs to go here. Everything is going out, it’s really pitiful.”
Shelby Arnett, who works at Bath & Body Works, was a bit more hopeful. She believes the new big-name store will help drive traffic, and it is opening just in time for the Christmas season, which is a plus.
“It took a long time,” she said. “I’m glad to see a real name and a real date, instead of just empty promises all the time.”
There are some stores that appear to be occupied, with equipment and such, but shopper Joyce Boyd said new stores have opened and then shut just as quickly as a swinging door.
Burlington will have a positive impact on the mall, judging from the crowds other locations seem to draw, Boyd thinks.
“Maybe I’ll start shopping here again,” the Middletown resident said.
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