Southern Park Mall Reopening: What Happened and What We Know

The Mall's Not Just Closed; It's Flatlining

The Southern Park Mall in Boardman, Ohio, experienced an unexpected closure on a recent Monday morning, citing "operational safety concerns." Stores like Bath and Body Works and Hollister told employees to stay home. The mall reopened at 12:30 p.m., but tenants weren't required to open, and fire crews were on scene. While the stated reason was safety, the underlying financials paint a far more troubling picture.

Delinquent Taxes and Diminishing Trust

The shutdown comes as mall owner Mike Kohan, with Kohan Investment Group, is already delinquent on tax payments. County Commissioner Geno DiFabio didn't mince words, stating that the closure "isn't a good sign" and that "This guy's not a good player." Boardman trustee candidate Cody McCormick echoed this sentiment, saying the mall is on "life support" and demanding accountability.

Here's the problem: these aren't just vague accusations. Delinquent taxes are a measurable indicator of financial distress. The fact that the mall owner hasn't returned calls (as reported by 21 News) only exacerbates the issue. It's a classic case of correlation not necessarily equaling causation, but the timing is…unfortunate.

What's the actual dollar amount of the tax delinquency? And what are the specific "operational safety concerns"? Without that data, we're left with speculation, but the absence of transparency is itself a data point.

The Broader Retail Apocalypse

It's tempting to see this as an isolated incident, a local problem in Boardman, Ohio. But that's a fallacy. The struggles of Southern Park Mall are symptomatic of a broader trend: the retail apocalypse. Malls across the country are facing declining foot traffic, store closures, and increasing competition from e-commerce giants like Amazon. (Amazon's Q3 2023 net sales increased 13% to $143.1 billion, a number that puts immense pressure on brick-and-mortar retailers.)

The text message sent to employees by Southern Park Mall Manager Vince Tyler stated the mall was closed to the public due to “operational safety concerns." Southern Park Mall to reopen Monday afternoon after 'operational Shortly after, Tyler sent a follow-up text saying the mall will now open at 12:30 p.m., but tenants are not required to open due to the delay. It's unclear exactly how many mall employees are affected by these delays.

I've seen this pattern before: vague explanations, followed by partial reopenings, followed by…well, usually more closures. It's a slow bleed, not a sudden collapse.

Is the "operational safety concern" a legitimate issue, or a convenient excuse to mask deeper financial problems? What percentage of tenants chose not to reopen at 12:30 p.m.? That would be a revealing metric.

The Community's Stake

The most concerning aspect of this situation isn't just the financial distress of a mall owner; it's the impact on the community. DiFabio pointed out that "The residents of the Mahoning County are getting hurt. Boardman Township is getting hurt. The schools are being hurt."

This isn't just about shopping; it's about jobs, tax revenue, and community identity. Malls used to be town squares, gathering places. Now, they're increasingly becoming relics of a bygone era.

The Boardman trustee candidate, Cody McCormick, stated that the mall owner "needs to step up for the community," and that he "needs to see his way out of the community" if he doesn't. It's a sentiment echoed by many in the area.

But what specific proposals are being considered to revitalize the mall or mitigate the economic impact of its potential closure? Simply demanding accountability isn't a strategy.

This Isn't Just a Mall; It's a Warning Sign

It's easy to dismiss this as a local news story, but it's a microcosm of a larger economic shift. The decline of Southern Park Mall isn't just about one bad owner or one struggling mall; it's about the changing landscape of retail and the challenges facing communities that rely on these institutions. The lack of transparency and the vague explanations only add fuel to the fire. The numbers may not be fully available, but the trend is undeniable.