Deep in the heart of Olathe there lies a sprawling, bizarrely art-deco building that we know as the “Great Mall of the Great Plains.” Yes, sure, that’s one too many “greats,” but no matter — the building has long been a staple of the intersection of I-35 and 151st Street. An empty staple, anyway: the mall has been in trouble since the early aughts, when revenue began to fall and vacancy became rampant. And now? Well, now the mall sits as sort of a sad testimony to the high-flyin’ borrow-and-spend economy of the last ten years (except with way more purple carpeting). But that’s not stopping a group called “Great Olathe Center” from purchasing the mall and envisioning castles of commerce in the sky. And why not? It’s a great time to be in the mall business! Right? Oh.
The new owners have all kinds of plans for the revitalized mall.
Block said the new owners already are in talks with “entrepreneurial” local and regional retailers and restaurants to fill empty spaces and increase traffic at the mall, which is about 70 percent occupied. He said those businesses will be offered “reasonable” rental rates and short- to mid-term leases with relocation rights within the mall if they are successful…
Despite its size, the mall is not easily visible from Interstate 35, so more signs will be added. The new owners also may add high-profile entertainment venues and a hotel.
Hmm. This sounds like a can’t-miss idea. I know that when I think “high-profile entertainment venues and a hotel,” I think “Olathe KS.” And besides, who could say no to a face like this?
Yikes.
[...] 12, 2009 by Pendergast Hey, remember the lovely feeling of renewal that swept across Olathe just days ago? Yes, those were truly the halcyon days of Olathe commerce [...]