A major redevelopment of the property is ongoing.
Author’s Note
This article is based on corporate postings and accredited media reports. Linked information within this article is attributed to the following outlets: Google.com and LehighValleyLive.com.
Introduction
I write extensively for NewsBreak about the financial volatility challenging longstanding U.S. shopping malls.
My January 18th article, “80% of U.S. Shopping Malls Estimated By Industry Analysts to Permanently Close Within 10 Years,” is particularly pertinent to this current piece due to detailing widespread industry analyst expectations.
As excerpted from the article: As a targeted Google search will verify, common industry analyst reasons for the sharp downtown of U.S. malls include the pandemic — though foot traffic had been widely decreasing nationwide for several years prior — and subsequent popularity of online shopping, cultural shifts including further advances in technology and readily available recreation and shopping options, and even political polarization.
Now comes word that rumors behind yet another recently-sold mall — specifically, the Westgate Mall in Pennsylvania — appear to be true, as within the entity’s ongoing redevelopment process several eviction notices have been sent to long-term tenants.
Said notices represent the entity’s plans for the future do not include at least some longstanding businesses.
Let us explore further.
Shopping Malls, 2023
According to a January 25th report from LehighValleyLive.com, entitled “Six Westgate Mall Businesses Say They Are Being Forced to Vacate Ahead of Redevelopment,” companies that occupied the mall since the entity’s early days are now being evicted.
As excerpted from the report: At least six businesses received notice by Westgate Mall’s management to vacate in coming months as part of a major ongoing redevelopment project at the Bethlehem shopping center, according to the businesses.
The report went on to state: The business owners told lehighvalleylive.com they received a letter this past Friday from Woodbridge, New Jersey-based Onyx Equities, the real estate firm overseeing the mall. Some were told in the letter to vacate by March while others were told they had until April. Businesses who said they received letters include: Fashion Nails; Subway; Holiday Hair; Hawk Music Center; Westgate Jewelers; and Amateur Athlete.
As of press time, it is unknown if other businesses within the mall have also received their eviction notices.
Conclusion
This is a developing story. In the event of pertinent updates to matters discussed herein — inclusive of further in-mall business closures — I will share them here on NewsBreak.
Thank you for reading.
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