Columbia Colonnade
Map
LocationBuckhorn, Pennsylvania, United States
Coordinates41°01′02″N 76°29′13″W / 41.01721°N 76.48690°W / 41.01721; -76.48690
Address225 Columbia Mall Drive
Opening date1988[1][2]
Closing dateMarch 31, 2022[3][better source needed]
DeveloperZamias[4]
OwnerFoust Holdings LLC[5]
No. of stores and services0[3]
No. of anchor tenants3-6[2][6](formerly 4)[7]
Total retail floor area352,544 sq ft (32,752.4 m2)[2][7]
No. of floors1[1]
Parking2,419 spaces[8]

Columbia Colonnade (formerly Columbia Mall) was a shopping mall located just outside Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania. It was anchored by EFO Furniture, Planet Fitness, Dunham's Sports, MVP Clubhouse, and a VA Clinic.[2][9] The mall was next to Interstate 80 and PA 42.[1] It also served the Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania, as well as several surrounding communities, such as Bloomsburg and Buckhorn, Pennsylvania.[4]

History

Columbia Colonnade's construction was estimated to cost more than $30 million.[10] The mall opened in 1988 with anchors Sears, J. C. Penney, The Bon-Ton, and Hills Department Stores.[4][10] Sears and J. C. Penney moved from downtown Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, to become anchor stores when the mall opened.[4][10] The mall was sold early in its existence for $36 million to Heitman Advisory Corp.[11] In 1995, Columbia Mall was sold for $27.6 million.[5] The only anchor change during this time was when Hills converted to Ames in 1999.[12][13][14] After the closure of Ames in 2002, the vacant store was used occasionally for the Animal Resource Center Yard Sale, Eagle Arms Gun Show, and WNEP Outdoor Expo.[15] Cedar Shopping Centers (Cedar Bloomsburg LLC) bought the mall in 2005 for $14 million from Bay View Columbia Mall, with reconstruction plans existing in 2008.[5][16][17] WP Realty joined as a 25% owner of the mall in 2008.[1]

Non-retail office space leases at the mall started in the early 2010s and included Geisinger Health Plan.[18][19] Dunham's Sports opened in 2011 occupying most of the empty Ames store.[14] Cedar sold the mall in April 2013 for $2.8 million to Empire Columbia LP and management was replaced.[5][20][21] Sears closed in January 2015.[22][23][24] EFO Furniture opened in February 2017, occupying a portion of the former Sears.[25] Planet Fitness opened in spring 2017, occupying half of the former Sears.[26][27] J. C. Penney closed at the mall on July 31, 2017.[28][29][30][31] Bon-Ton closed in 2018 due to the chain's liquidation.[32] MVP Clubhouse opened in Summer 2018, occupying the remaining former Ames.[33][34]

Columbia Mall was renamed to Columbia Colonnade on November 1, 2018.[35][36] Greenwood Farm Market, a farmers market, opened at the Colonnade in April 2019.[37] Columbia Colonnade was sold by Empire Columbia LP (Empire Realty Investments) to Foust Holdings LLC for $7 million in July 2019.[5][38][39] The mall lost several stores due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.[40] Partial reconstruction plans were announced in July 2020, with a Veterans Affairs office opening planned for August. Three stores remained in the mall's interior during January 2021.[9][41] Columbia Colonnade during 2021 suffered from drinking water issues, heating/cooling problems, lack of staff including security, and roof leaks. Communication with ownership was complicated, due to them not responding.[9]

The last inline tenant, Outback Roos, closed on March 31, 2022, along with the mall's interior.[3][better source needed] The malls deteriorating condition was one of the causes of Outback Roos closure.[42] Columbia Colonnade was originally scheduled to be auctioned in July 2022 with a starting bid of $3.4 million, but that was later delayed until August.[43][44] Kohan Retail Investment Group made an offer prior to the auction, but it was not accepted. Under Foust's ownership, the mall received $1.4 million in changes.[43] Columbia Colonnade did not sell in August, as the auction failed to meet the reserve price of $20 million.[44]

References

  1. ^ a b c d "WP Realty — Columbia Mall Joint Venture - Bloomsburg, PA". WP Realty. 2008-01-03. Archived from the original on February 24, 2017. Retrieved 2014-07-31.
  2. ^ a b c d "225 Columbia Mall Drive 2018" (PDF). LoopNet. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
  3. ^ a b c "Outback Roos, Bloomsburg is now closed". Facebook. Retrieved 4 April 2022.
  4. ^ a b c d Wawrzaszek, Michelle (December 8, 1988). "New Mall Gives Bloomsburg Merchants Holiday Blues". The Wilkes-Barre Times Leader. The Morning Call. Archived from the original on November 24, 2018. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  5. ^ a b c d e Deklinski, Larry (July 12, 2019). "Columbia Mall sold for $7 million". The News-Item. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
  6. ^ "Columbia Mall" (PDF). MSC Retail. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 28, 2018. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
  7. ^ a b "Fameco Listings Portfolio" (PDF). Fameco. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  8. ^ "Columbia Mall" (PDF). Cedar Realty Trust. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 25, 2016. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  9. ^ a b c Prichett, Abigail (March 27, 2021). "The Future of the Columbia Colonnade". The Voice. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
  10. ^ a b c Merkel, James C. (24 April 1988). "NORTHEAST NOTEBOOK: Bloomsburg, Pa.; Dissipating a Mall's Shadow". The New York Times. Section 10; p. 29. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
  11. ^ Koslosky, John-Erik (2 July 2017). "Ailing malls think outside box". Press Enterprise.
  12. ^ Malina, Brian (November 13, 1998). "Ames Buying Hills Stores". Times Leader. Archived from the original on 22 October 2014. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  13. ^ Young, Brian (July 22, 1999). "New Ames Stores Opens Doors Today". Times Leader. Archived from the original on 22 October 2014. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  14. ^ a b Pang, Gary (May 4, 2011). "Sporting-goods store needs 50 workers, mall official says". Press Enterprise.
  15. ^ Allabaugh, Denise (September 27, 2010). "Despite recession, malls boast high occupancy rates". Standard Speaker. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  16. ^ Milongo, Corinne (November 4, 2005). "Cedar Shopping Centers Buys Columbia Mall for $14M". CoStar. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
  17. ^ Pardy, Sasha M (January 30, 2008). "GOOD MATCH? Investors Think Inland-Cedar Merger is Intriguing". CoStar. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
  18. ^ Moore, Marcia (January 6, 2017). "Columbia Mall finds success in reinventing itself". The Daily Item. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  19. ^ "GHP rents office space in Columbia Mall". Press Enterprise. 23 May 2013. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
  20. ^ Ianieri, Brian (October 11, 2013). "Shore Mall becomes Harbor Square in Egg Harbor Township". The Press of Atlantic City. Retrieved 17 June 2017.
  21. ^ "Hometown Columbia Mall has new outlook". Press Enterprise. 25 March 2014. Retrieved 27 August 2018.
  22. ^ Krize, Nikki (October 17, 2014). "Sears to Close at the Columbia Mall". WNEP. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  23. ^ "Sears at Schuylkill, Columbia malls to close". News Item. October 17, 2014. Archived from the original on October 21, 2014. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  24. ^ Stevens, Ali (October 17, 2014). "Sears will close at Columbia Mall". WKOK. Archived from the original on September 10, 2015. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  25. ^ Ratchford, Dan (January 31, 2017). "New Store Planned for Columbia Mall". WNEP. Retrieved 23 February 2017.
  26. ^ Krize, Nikki (January 12, 2017). "Planet Fitness Coming to Columbia Mall". WNEP. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
  27. ^ Gaffney, Fred (26 April 2017). "Welcome Planet Fitness". The Columbia Montour Chamber of Commerce. Retrieved 28 May 2017.
  28. ^ Krize, Nikki (March 17, 2017). "Shoppers React to JCPenney Closing Stores in Our Area". WNEP. Retrieved 20 March 2017.
  29. ^ Reuther, Mike (March 18, 2017). "Department store leaving region's malls". Williamsport Sun-Gazette. Retrieved 20 March 2017.
  30. ^ "Department stores delay shutdowns". Williamsport Sun-Gazette. April 16, 2017. Retrieved 28 May 2017.
  31. ^ Jarvis, Jade (August 1, 2017). "Three local JCPenney stores closing their doors for good Monday". WOLF. Retrieved 1 August 2017.
  32. ^ Bomey, Nathan (April 18, 2018). "Bon-Ton Stores closing: See list of Boston Store, Carson's, Younkers, Herberger's stores". USA Today. Retrieved 24 April 2018.
  33. ^ Lester, Michael (8 June 2018). "Dads build for athletes to come". Press Enterprise.
  34. ^ "New Sports Training Facility Opens". WNEP. July 28, 2018. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  35. ^ "Columbia Mall Renamed". Facebook. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
  36. ^ Wood, Scott (3 December 2018). "Call mall Columbia Colonnade". Press Enterprise. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
  37. ^ Crossley, Pat (May 3, 2019). "Farmers market's new home means shopping doesn't end". Williamsport Sun-Gazette. Retrieved 16 May 2019.
  38. ^ "Empire Realty Investments Building Value & Growth Through Turnarounds, Long-Term Strategy for Value-Add Properties". Business Wire. 28 February 2019. Retrieved 1 March 2019.
  39. ^ Lester, Michael (11 July 2019). "Developer buys mall for $7M". Press Enterprise. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
  40. ^ Gibbons, Geri (26 July 2020). "Owner to demolish part of mall". Press Enterprise. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
  41. ^ Gibbons, Geri (5 January 2021). "Mall shops: We're open". Press Enterprise. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
  42. ^ Mahon, M.J. (20 March 2022). "Bloom Bounce in mall to close". Press Enterprise Online. Retrieved 25 August 2022.
  43. ^ a b Bogdan, Leon; Gibbons, Geri (21 June 2022). "Auction set for mall property". Press Enterprise Online. Retrieved 25 August 2022.
  44. ^ a b Wemple, Julye (September 4, 2022). "Developer in talks to bring in national chain restaurants and store". NorthcentralPA.com. Retrieved 6 September 2022.

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