Remember when the Towne Mall in Middletown was more than Sears, Elder-Beerman, and a few specialty shops? Kids would line up to go see Santa, teens would flock together to eat at the food court, and people of all ages could enjoy the Towne Mall’s variety of stores. We may get to see this again in the coming years.

Let’s rewind for a minute, as for now the mall is a ghost town, only 18 of the 52 available retails spaces are occupied. For every one occupied store, you’ll find two caged-off, failed shops. There is no food court, not a single place to get something to eat. The two main attractions on the mall’s website are “Free Layaway at Sears” and “Walk your way to better health,” as the mall has become a popular place for seniors to walk indoors.

A group of California investors have seen the true potential in the Towne Mall; it is to be sold to the SA Mary Ohio, LLC Corporation on Friday. They plan to make major renovations and recruit new tenants.

Some of the upgrades the investors are considering are re-doing the parking lot, updating the sign, and other aesthetic improvements as the mall, built in 1977, has needed a face-lift since the 90's.

The investors see potential in the mall and plan to find the most suitable businesses to fill the mall, hopefully a food court.

“The mall is going to look sharp” after the renovations are made, claims Middletown Economic Development Director Denise Hamet.

Perhaps one day soon Middletown residents won’t have to travel to the Monroe or Dayton malls to get their shopping done, and Towne Mall will again be a worthwhile shopping stop.

Source: Middletown Journal