The Dayton Mall, Far from Gone!
Contrary to the “word on the street”, the Dayton Mall is anything but dead or dying. Yes, the mall along with countless other retail centers around the world have lost tenants due to bankruptcies and dealing with the difficulties we all are facing in the recovery from the pandemic. However, I am very happy to report that the Dayton Mall is not only doing well, but gaining strength.
The Washington Prime Group’s philosophy is that our properties are not shopping malls, they are Town Centers. Leasing efforts have been focused on both traditional and non-traditional retail uses. Our mission is to provide our community with a variety of retail, dining and entertainment, along with non-traditional services and uses typically not found in similar facilities. Destinations that will attract people to the center and keep them coming back to the area.
Since reopening from the pandemic in May of 2020, the Dayton Mall has added to our retail selection, Hype, Addickted 2 Kicks, Her Curves Boutique, T-Shirt Station, Seasonal Fashion and Troy Luxor. Entertainment uses such as Amazing Space and All in Adventures. Service tenants including Medicare Resource Center, Couture Beauty Co. and Team ReMaxx Realty. Not to forget our largest addition, the 50,000sf Morris Home Furnishings Showroom. That is a total of more than 78,000 square feet of new stores added to the mall.
In addition to this, DE-FI (Dayton Emerging Fashion Incubator) opened three spaces in the mall next to Dick’s Sporting Goods in early 2021. This 14,700 SF location provides all aspects of support, training and education to the fashion industry throughout the local and regional communities. There are co-op working spaces for designers, photographers and writers to professional grade sewing equipment for manufacturing, to modeling training and so much more. As part of this concept, one of the spaces is dedicated to selling locally designed and manufactured apparel, Dayton Threads. What has been incredible to see are the number of amazing fashion professionals and talented individuals we have right here in the Miami Valley.
Throughout the pandemic, the Dayton Mall was involved in countless projects assist area non-profit organizations that were either unable to find enough volunteers or not able to access their facilities due to COVID restrictions. As a result, the Dayton Mall Non-Profit Co-Op was formed to collect and house non-perishable food items, essential need items, pet supplies and school supplies. Over 20 different non-profit organizations benefited from the generous donations of our local communities and were able to distribute these supplies to approximately 5,000 area families in need. This project continued throughout 2020 and into 2021. Additionally, the mall hosted numerous free outdoor concerts that were either drive-in style or socially distanced seating to provide our customers with some safe and family friendly entertainment during a time when we all needed to have some fun. The mall hosted several indoor events and activations designed to provide our shoppers with fun and exciting things to experience while visiting the property. Looking forward, we have a host of great events planned for the remainder of 2021 and we encourage everyone to visit our website: www.daytonmall.com for more details.
So, what are we going to add in the coming months? Well, it has already started with the recent opening of Sally Beauty next to Spectrum in the Village area. By late summer / early fall, Rose & Remington will open on the corner near First Watch and Sally Beauty’s concept CosmoProf will open next to Sally Beauty. In addition, several potential tenants are looking at the two-remaining spaces in the Village area which when finalized, will result in an additional 11,600 SF of new tenant space.
Interior additions have included the recent opening of Blossom Juicy Bar on the second level in the food court. Upcoming openings include Selfie University (September), Ross Jewelers (late summer), All-Star Elite (October) and Tailored Care Home Healthcare training facility (October). With these additions and the leases that are out for signature, the total new additions to the center by November of 2021 will be in excess of 116,000 SF. Not too bad!
I would also like to add that there is significant interest in the former Elder Beerman building and site. The pandemic has significantly slowed a lot of the progress that was being made as new development, financing and construction are still working towards a recovery. The good news is that despite the pandemic and all the issues surrounding business activity in general, the Dayton Mall area and the Dayton Mall in particular are still drawing a lot of interest from businesses looking at relocating or expanding into this area.
If you haven’t been to the mall in a while, don’t take my word for it. Check it out for yourself! Visit www.daytonmall.com for all the latest and greatest events, activities and announcements. We look forward to seeing you soon!