by Lynn Nadler]

After years of ownership by Stanford Management Corporation, the Worthington Mall was purchased late last month by General Electric Financial.  City officials say they are prepared to work with the new owners to help with redevelopment options.  "Our objective is to reposition the mall with the appropriate mix of tenants that will serve the people of Worthington and offer them a selection of retail and dining opportunities that is commensurate with their expectations," said Jerry Ong, a partner in the Chicago development firm, Jupiter Realty, which is creating a redevelopment plan.

Worthington Mall has over 150,000 square feet of retail space, much of which is currently unoccupied.  The Mall has been a fixture for many years in Worthington, with current stores such as Talbots, Chico's, Ann Taylor and Jos A Bank, to name a few, plus the popular restaurant, First Watch.  Many other stores have come and gone over the last few years, primarily due to heavy competition from the much larger Mall at Polaris, which is a few minutes away, as well as the Crosswoods entertainment district with its many restaurants.  The loss of many of the stores that were once part of the Mall has been felt by many residents of the Worthington area.  Hopefully, with new ownership, the Mall will quickly return to its former position as a vibrant part of the Worthington community.