EVANSVILLE, IN (WFIE) -
Eastland Mall in Evansville has announced it has a new owner.
Officials say since 1998, the mall had been co-owned by Indianapolis-based Simon Property Group and Mace-Rich based in Santa Monica, California, but at the start of the new year the merger dissolved, leaving the mall in the hands of Mace-Rich.
Thursday, 14 News talked with the Marketing Director at Eastland Mall, who says the new ownership won't mean any big changes for the consumer, but he says it could be a good opportunity to change up some stores.
"I'm a girl, I love the mall," said shopper Lindsey Schroeder.
Schroeder says she shops a lot at Eastland Mall.
"I think there's good variety. There's a couple more stores that we both would like to see, but other than that I think there's a good variety."
Other shoppers tell 14 News their favorite thing about Eastland is its easy access from all parts of the city.
"The ability to spend money at a clean place that's convenient and trustworthy," said mall-goer Steven Lewis.
Eastland's Director of Marketing Sean Ferguson says those things won't change and some new stores may be coming soon.
"I would like to see an Apple store and maybe a Carrabba's," said Schroeder.
"All the times that I've been there, they've had everything that I wanted," commented Lewis.
'Kitchens' has been in the mall for about 20 years and GM Kathleen Collins says their lease wasn't renewed and the mall offered them a store half the size of their current one, which is already the company's smallest.
Eastland says they're still "in discussion" with Kitchens and as far as using Simon gift cards, Eastland says they're American Express and Visa-based, and can still be spent at the mall.
"A lot of people come in from the surrounding towns, you know the smaller towns. They come to Evansville for the mall and so maybe the new stores will bring more people in," said Schroeder.
Kitchens says they'll be leaving the mall after this weekend and are leaving the door open for another location in town.
Mall officials tell 14 News there will be a new Eastland Mall American Express card coming out in February.
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