New vision for former Southlake Mall anchor store
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A long-vacant anchor store at Southlake Mall in Hobart could spring back to life, filled with multiple workspaces and retail kiosks. Our partners at The Times of Northwest Indiana report California-based Cubework wants to configure the Carson’s department store, which went out of business in 2018.
The company acquired the two-story, 144,000-square-foot space. It specializes in flexible workspaces, and build-to-suit offices. The publication says Cubework wants to transform the former department store into a place for pop-up retail shops, kiosks and a co-working space.
The company hopes to open the move-in-ready spaces as soon as Nov. 15, just ahead of the busy holiday shopping season.
Economists tell the publication that it’s a good sign that developers are willing to invest in the Southlake Mall at a time when malls are closing nationally.
“Being able to find investors, especially for less traditional uses of the available space, is crucial for the survival of the Southlake Mall,” said Micah Pollak, associate professor of economics at Indiana University Northwest. “This is a good sign for the mall, but not a complete answer to all of the challenges the mall faces.”
Cubework will rent kiosks for as little as $590 a month as well as fully furnished pop-up spaces where entrepreneurs can place their products on already installed shelves.
The company says businesses can get a short-term lease to test the market for their goods and services.
Access the full report from reporter Joseph Pete and The Times of Northwest Indiana by clicking here.