New Owners Hope to breathe Life back into Spartanburg’s WestGate Mall
Spartanburg’s WestGate Mall, a once bustling hub of retail, is now looking to reinvent itself and bounce back. What started out with partly cloudy skies amid minor winds, turned into a day full of hope and determination, as the mall’s new owners launched a renewed effort to fill vacant store spaces. The mall, located at 205 W. Blackstock Road, was sold to a new ownership group nearly four months ago, and they are eager to restore the property’s former glory.
With local commercial real estate firm, Spencer Hines, spearheading the mission, the hopes are high for the WestGate Mall that had, unfortunately, seen several major tenants like Dick’s Sporting Goods, Bed Bath and Beyond, and Sears move out in the recent past. Add to that the closure of a popular food court including eateries like Chick-fil-A and Smokin Wings, the mall certainly has quite a task ahead in their journey towards revitalization.
Turning the Tides through a Marketing Push
The mall’s owners, Namco Realty, CH Capital Group, and Mason Asset Management, purchased the property for $15 million. They have now enlisted the services of Spencer Hines to market as many as 20 vacant spaces to potential new tenants. The firm recently planted their stakes in the mall’s parking lot to help spread the word about the available retail space. “We want to get new tenants in there and promote the mall for new retailers and shops so the mall can get back to what it once was,” expressed Mike Tan, Spencer Hines broker associate.
The locals are also not just spectators but active cheerleaders in this revival crusade. Many remember the golden days of the mall and wish to see it return to its heyday. Cody Puck, a local resident, reminisces, “I do most of my shopping online, but I think if they bring in more stores it could be a good thing. I would like to see more men’s clothing stores or maybe a gaming room.” And he’s not alone.
The Hopes and Dreams for the Mall
Jaida Knight, a student at the University of South Carolina Upstate, moved to Spartanburg in January. She echoes Puck’s sentiments, adding her own spin. “They need more variety in their stores,” she emphasized. “Maybe they can get a Starbucks.”
There’s certainly no shortage of ideas or enthusiasm, but the journey towards restoration is a long one. The most recent update suggests that signs announcing store closings were seen at Overstock Furniture and Mattress, along with the signs of former food court occupant, Smokin’ Wings being emptied of its kitchen equipment.
But it’s not entirely a bleak picture. National Retailers, Belk, Dillard’s and JCPenney continue to hold the fort as the mall’s anchors. Furthermore, an assurance of safety has also been given, as the Mall has ramped up their security protocols with the aid of a new security company that provides round-the-clock security, aiming to assure shoppers that their safety comes first.
With new maneuvers to fill the vacant spaces, ranging from 500 to 35,000 square feet, with a healthy mix of retail and eating joints, pointed efforts towards ensuring the public’s safety and determined efforts by Mike Tan and his team, there’s every chance that the WestGate Mall will indeed live up to the promises of its new owners – providing a safe, vibrant hub for the community to shop, eat and enjoy. Here’s to clear skies and sunny days ahead for Spartanburg’s WestGate Mall!
