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The Warren Mall has been sold and plans are already in process to revive the struggling retail center.
Cocca Development of Boardman, Ohio, with properties in 22 states, announced Friday that it had purchased the mall.
Anthony Cocca, president and CEO, said on Friday that the deal closed on Thursday.
“What our idea is, we’re going to do an open air center (and) demo out the front part of the mall,” he explained.
Preliminary images of the new mall indicate that the concourse will be removed, leaving nine storefronts in two groups – seven connected stores to the north and two at the south end.
“As a company, we have retail property across the country,” Cocca added.
There are two new names among the tenants shown on the plans. Dunham’s Sporting Goods anchors the northern end of the mall and Ollie’s takes up a portion of the two-unit group at the south end. Existing stores Bon-Ton and Label Shopper are shown on the rendering.
Cocca said that Dunham’s Sporting Good will be located at the end of the mall formerly occupied by Big Lots and that Ollie’s “is out for lease right now pending corporate approval.”
The existing tenants will remain at the mall.
“Bon-Ton is staying. Label Shopper is staying, moving to another section of the mall itself,” he explained. “All the places in there want to stay. (We are) trying to fit everyone… in that’s there.”
And the changes will commence “almost immediately,” Cocca said as the asphalt to re-do the parking lot is already out for bid.
“That will be the first step,” he added, explaining that the second step is finishing the space for Dunham’s followed by moving currents and demolishing the front part of the mall.
“It will be class A center,” Cocca said. “(We are) looking forward to actually being part of the community, dressing it up.”
He called the renovated mall “something everyone in the community will be proud of.”
“Acquisition of the Warren Mall property by the Cocca Development Group is a true positive for Warren County,” said Jim Decker, Warren County Chamber of Business and Industry president and CEO. “The lack of attention paid to this property over the past decade has been truly disappointing.”
“Our conversations with the team at Cocca give us every confidence that the property will be renovated and reinvigorated returning it to a property of value and activity,” Decker said. “When high-profile properties such as the Warren Mall fall into disrepair and minimal occupancy they present a very tainted image of the overall health and vitality of a community. The commitment made by Cocca Development in acquiring this property will eliminate this negative image and replace it with one of rejuvenation and forward progress. We look forward to working with the Cocca team in completing their objectives and enhancing our community.”