Can owner re-invent Sandusky Mall?

PERKINS TWP. — What's to become of the Sandusky Mall, the city's namesake premiere shopping center for the last 45 years?A lot of people are asking that question with news about the latest departure of a large retailer: Elder-Beerman, a clothing store, announced this week its closing all of its stores, including the one at Sandusky Mall.It's been bad news after bad news for the mall. Last year the Macy's store and Charming Charlie both closed and the year before, the iconic Sears left.The dominoes continued to fall last month, when Ruby Tuesday, a chain restaurant at the mall for more than three decades, also shuttered.‪None of the vacant spaces have been filled since the departures. "I sure would not want to be a mall owner nowadays," Register reader Chuck Allen Poore, of Sandusky, posted under a Register story at Facebook about the mall. "If I was (the owner), I would survey what works and what doesn't work. This is 2018 and you have to think outside the box. (The mall's) got a whole lot of empty space to fill."The owners, Cafaro Co., built the 750,000 square-foot mall in the mid-1970s, with anchor stores JCPenney — one of the lone anchor tenants remaining — and Montgomery Ward. The Sears store was added after Montgomery Ward closed, and there was a May Co. store that eventually became the Macy's.Cafaro Co. has a long and successful history in the retail industry and has expressed confidence in the Sandusky property, but they have not spelled out what they're planning to do to shore up business at the mall.Register readers had a lot of suggestions."Turn the Macy's store into a hotel and Sears store into a water park," Lori Alspach Hall said. "That's the way to get people to the mall.‬""Look at (the mall in) Mansfield. Avita Hospital bought a lot of it made a hospital, an ER and doctors' offices in it. Now more stores going in the mall‬," Donald Perry posted."I really hope the mall owner comes up with something to draw people in, laser tag, bar/arcade, rock climbing, live music," Tom Hayes, of Sandusky, said. "For what they charge in rent they need something to increase foot traffic."As far as readers are concerned, it seems many believe the digital age has changed the retail industry in a big way."Someone should invest some money and start an entertainment complex (to) have concerts and other events," Willard Shupe, Sandusky, posted. ‬"So much shopping on Amazon. That's the problem," Stephanie Kromer said."Malls are a thing of the past, thanks Amazon.com," Dugan Clark posted. ‬The Sandusky Mall in Perkins Township on Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2017.The Ruby Tuesday in the Sandusky Mall recently closed. Elder-Beerman at the Sandusky Mall in Perkins Township on Wednesday, April 18, 2018.Macy's store closed in 2017.