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After plunging in 2020, central Ohio retail is climbing out of its pandemic hole. Foot traffic is rising, leasing is up, and new stores are opening throughout the Columbus area, but plenty of clouds remain, especially for enclosed malls and older strip centers in central Ohio, which has more than twice the retail space of the U.S. average. “A year ago, I definitely thought I was heading into what I thought would be the worst part of my career,” says David Lukes, CEO of SITE Centers, the Beachwood-based firm that owns or co-owns several premium Columbus shopping centers including Lennox Town Center, Polaris Towne Center, Sun Center and Easton Market. “Leasing activity now is the highest I’ve ever seen it. This is the most shocking turnaround I’ve ever seen.” ....
After plunging in 2020, central Ohio retail is climbing out of its pandemic hole. Foot traffic is rising, leasing is up, and new stores are opening throughout the Columbus area, but plenty of clouds remain, especially for enclosed malls and older strip centers in central Ohio, which has more than twice the retail space of the U.S. average. I can now admit that I was wrong, said David Lukes, CEO of SITE Centers, the Beachwood-based firm that owns or co-owns several premium Columbus shopping centers including Lennox Town Center, Polaris Towne Center, Sun Center and Easton Market. A year ago, I definitely thought I was heading into what I thought would be the worst part of my career. Now I think I m heading into the best part of my career. Leasing activity now is the highest I ve ever seen it. This is the most shocking turnaround I ve ever seen. ....
What was formerly acres of blighted and abandoned apartments are now going to be home to a small and affordable apartment development. But whether it s a harbinger of better things ahead for the area near Westland Mall remains unclear. Woda Cooper Companies plans to build 60 affordable apartments for senior residents near the Havenwood Townhomes site, which sits just west of and across Georgesville Road from Hollywood Casino Columbus near Westland Mall. The apartments are being built in Prairie Township on former Franklin County land bank parcels. The land bank tore down about 40 blighted apartment buildings totaling 760 units, said Curtiss Williams, president and CEO of the land bank known as the Central Ohio Community Improvement Corporation. ....
GuidesArch CityHome & StyleDiningFeaturesWeddingsLegals Seven Questions with La Plaza Tapatia’s Gustavo Salazar The owner of the West Side’s authentic Mexican grocery superstore provides tips for celebrating Cinco de Mayo. Columbus Monthly First things first: Contrary to common misconception, Cinco de Mayo is not the Mexican equivalent of Independence Day. Rather, it celebrates a single victory in a single battle that took place in the town of Puebla, Mexico, southeast of Mexico City. On May 5, 1862, the Mexican army defeated the much larger French army in a battle that, while not strategically important, served as a major morale-booster for the Mexican forces. France didn’t withdraw from Mexico until 1867, after the United States provided military and political support to its neighbor to the south. ....