Mixed-use development will officially replace Concord Mall

 

ELKHART, Ind. -- Concord Mall will officially be closing its doors.

The $20 million project is set to begin in just a few months to turn around the 80+ acres that the Concord Mall sits on and turn the vision of a modernized and expanded mixed-use development into a reality.

“The mall of our memory isn’t the mall of today,” says Aaron Mishler, First District City Councilman for the city of Elkhart.

The mall that was built in the early ‘70s and has served the Elkhart area for just over 50 years will soon be a memory.

In a 9-0 vote, the Elkhart City Council is on board to revitalize the desolate shopping center into a mixed-use site.

The developers with the plan, from a company called ICP, are known for turning around dead malls around the country.

However, they want to keep the current local businesses, like Hobby Lobby, Ace Hardware, and Enzo’s Pizza, while creating new residential and business spaces.

“This will hopefully reinvigorate the property, create some jobs, and help alleviate some of our housing concerns in the process as well,” Mishler hopes.

Even former managers of the mall, like Robert Thatcher, who worked at Concord Mall for over 20 years, say now’s the time to invest in the future.

“I’d say that the recent history of it’s languishing has been painful, but I think tonight is an exciting opportunity for high quality professional developers, national developers, to recognize the strength of Elkhart County and the community,” says former Manager and Director of Leasing at Concord Mall, Robert Thatcher.

Now that the project has the green light to move forward, developers hope to begin construction within the next few months, but it’s not clear how long the mall will stay open for at this time.