Forecast: If Kohan Retail remains unwilling to invest in repairs or taxes, Southern Park Mall could face a protracted shutdown and accelerating tenant exodus. The holiday shopping season – normally the busiest period – will be all but lost if the mall stays closed, potentially pushing more retailers to exit. Over the longer term, experts say the best outcome may be for a new owner or new purpose to take over. “It’s best… to embrace what [Kohan is] doing and start to look at what the next generation of that land use could be,” Egelanian advises communitieswfmj.com. In other words, rather than pin hopes on a negligent landlord reversing course, Boardman may need to pursue redevelopment opportunities with partners who have the resources to transform the site. The Southern Park Mall was once a bustling retail hub and still hosts popular national brands – but without swift resolution of the safety issues and a change in ownership approach, its days as a traditional mall appear numbered. Local officials and residents are watching closely, hopeful for either a turnaround or a new chapter for this landmark property. For now, the lights in the mall corridors are dark, and an uneasy question
