Southlake Mall Under New Ownership

It has bought malls in numerous areas, including California, Massachusetts and Washington state, but until now, Vintage’s portfolio didn’t include this region.

“We have nothing going on in the Southeast and thought, it’s time we’re there,” says Vintage chairman Fred Sands.

The lines of communication between Vintage and the city of Morrow opened last summer.

“They reached out to the leaders of the city and the country to get a feel of what our pulse was.  To show that we have that we have that support for them and they have that support from us.  It’s a beautiful, beautiful relationship,” says Morrow Mayor J.B. Burke.

Local and state officials hope the money they’ve recently put into the roads and bridges near the mall will help make the mall more attractive to customers.

“I think that these owners are going to really focus on improving the overall look, both inside and outside,” says Clayton County official Grant Wainscott.

An audio version of this story.

Southlake Mall has been on the decline for many years and went into foreclosure in 2013.

“I really hate to use the word ‘fled,’ but it’s so obvious that so many businesses have left Clayton County and come south,” says Burke.

Target and La-Z-Boy are just two of the larger stores that left Clayton County and went further south.

Officials hope the mall will rebound under Vintage Real Estate.

“All seven municipalities, along with the county, believe Southlake Mall is the lifeblood to the (Clayton) county,” says Burke.

J.C. Penny is another store that closed in Southlake Mall.  Vintage bought that property and is working toward finding a new anchor store at that location.