Golf Range, Planet Fitness to Open at Southern Park Mall

BOARDMAN, Ohio – Washington Prime Group has announced a slate of additions to Southern Park Mall, including the addition of indoor golf center The Bunker and PNC renovating its branch at the site.

In addition to the driving range, golf simulators and putting green, The Bunker will include multiple dining and bar areas as part of an attached restaurant – Bogey’s – and classrooms for the Ben Curtis Golf Academy. The academy, created by 2003 British Open champion Ben Curtis, will include classrooms for groups and individuals.

“As a lifelong Valley golfer, I am very excited to help bring this needed indoor golf facility to our area,” said The Bunker owner Jonah Karzmer in a statement. “With a total of 12 golf simulators and an entire learning center run by a dedicated PGA professional and overseen by major champion Ben Curtis, I am confident this center will be a great facility for our local golf community.”

The 36,000-square-foot space will overlook DeBartolo Commons, the greenspace being built at the former Sears site after it was demolished. Next door to The Bunker will be Steel Valley Brew Works.

Other changes at the mall include the arrival of Planet Fitness, which will relocate its existing Boardman site to the mall between JCPenney and Buffalo Wild Wings. 

The projects are expected to open in summer and fall of 2021. DeBartolo Commons will also open at that time after the coronavirus pandemic forced the delay from this year, the mall’s 50th anniversary.

JCPenney has “expressed its intention to remain a key tenant at Southern Park Mall,” Washington Prime Group said in a statement, and Macy’s has committed to renovating its space at the mall and extending its lease. Likewise, PNC has agreed to renovating its site at the mall along Market Street.

“I’ve grown to love all things Boardman as well as Greater Youngstown and we’ve promised great things at Southern Park Mall,” said Lou Conforti, CEO of Washington Prime. “Everybody who calls this great city their home deserves only the best in dining, entertainment, merchandise and fitness offerings and I’m really pumped we’re going to deliver.”

Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.