BOARDMAN, Ohio – The buildings and land that comprise Southern Park Mall have been sold to a New York group for $24.1 million, according to a filing with the Mahoning County Auditor’s office.
Records show that Southern Park Mall Realty Holding LLC acquired the mall from Southern Park Mall LLC, an entity related to Washington Prime Group. The sale was recorded Dec. 23, according to the auditor’s website.
According to documents filed with the Ohio Secretary of State’s Office, Southern Park Mall Realty Holding is affiliated with Kohan Retail Investment Group, based in Long Neck, N.Y. The entity’s articles of incorporation were filed with the office Sept. 6.
The transfer includes the mall, a theater and more than 74 acres at the intersection of U.S. Route 224 and Market Street.
Southern Park Mall has long been an anchor of Boardman’s retail corridor. In October 2021, the mall’s owner, Washington Prime Group, completed a $30 million upgrade to the retail complex – DeBartolo Commons. The revamp included new restaurants and a public outdoor space that features a soccer field, an amphitheater stage and pavilion.
The mall was built in 1969 initially as a partnership between the Edward J. DeBartolo Co. and the Cafaro Co. Cafaro sold its interest shortly thereafter, enabling DeBartolo to own and operate the complex. In 2008, Simon Capital Group assumed ownership of the mall and then sold its interest to Washington Prime in 2014.
Officials earlier this month expressed concern over the sale of the mall, especially to Kohan Retail. Other cities where Kohan operates retail malls have reported a history of the company falling behind on property taxes and other bills, they said.
“I don’t like to see a good thing go to a bad group,” Mahoning County Commissioner Carol Rimedio-Righetti told The Business Journal earlier this month. “I’m not saying that they are a bad group, but that’s what I’m reading and I’m not the only one.”
According to its website, Kohan Retail owns 24 malls, including The Mall at Robinson in Pittsburgh, Pa., and the New Towne Mall in New Philadelphia, Ohio.