[BeldenStNewbie]

As for now I'm guessing as long as Carson's and Penny's remain as tenants the Marquette Mall will remain standing.

This tells the tale.

Over the past five years Sears and JCPenney have been closing stores left and right. But the Michigan City stores have always survived the cuts. This means those stores are meeting company expectations and will remain open until the bottom line slips.

But the chains aren't building new outlets. Penney's tried some standalone and strip mall stores in the early 2000s (see Valparaiso), but then the economy tanked and they were left to work with what they have. The fate of those anchor stores will seal the fate of the mall.

Right now, Marquette Mall is the "bizarro world" of dead malls. If you look at other dead malls around the country, they are dying because the anchor stores have left, leaving a hodge-podge of smaller tenants to fend for themselves. It's the total opposite here. Three big-name anchors and almost no other tenants.

What's the solution? It's anybody's guess. It looks bad, but if it's not violating any codes, the city can't condemn it. The owners are trying to sell it, so they'll put the bare minimum of their resources into it. It's a stalemate.

I say they should turn it into the world's largest food court.

Or...if the legislature okays land-based gaming...it's prime real estate just off the interstate.

[Tim]

This tells the tale.

Over the past five years Sears and JCPenney have been closing stores left and right. But the Michigan City stores have always survived the cuts. This means those stores are meeting company expectations and will remain open until the bottom line slips.

But the chains aren't building new outlets. Penney's tried some standalone and strip mall stores in the early 2000s (see Valparaiso), but then the economy tanked and they were left to work with what they have. The fate of those anchor stores will seal the fate of the mall.

Right now, Marquette Mall is the "bizarro world" of dead malls. If you look at other dead malls around the country, they are dying because the anchor stores have left, leaving a hodge-podge of smaller tenants to fend for themselves. It's the total opposite here. Three big-name anchors and almost no other tenants.

What's the solution? It's anybody's guess. It looks bad, but if it's not violating any codes, the city can't condemn it. The owners are trying to sell it, so they'll put the bare minimum of their resources into it. It's a stalemate.

I say they should turn it into the world's largest food court.

Or...if the legislature okays land-based gaming...it's prime real estate just off the interstate.

All good points - thanks for your candor.

So - do any of our members know anyone who works in Marquette Mall management who might be able to enlighten us as to the plan for the mall? Just curious as to what's going to happen there.

[taxthedeer]

All good points - thanks for your candor.

So - do any of our members know anyone who works in Marquette Mall management who might be able to enlighten us as to the plan for the mall? Just curious as to what's going to happen there.

First question to ask is when does Carson's and Penney's lease expire?

[Tim]

First question to ask is when does Carson's and Penney's lease expire?

The first question I would ask the owners is WTF is wrong with you! But thanks for almost spelling JC Penney right. So tired of seeing Pennys on the MC FB pages. I gnash my teeth in anguish! lol

[taxthedeer]

The first question I would ask the owners is WTF is wrong with you! But thanks for almost spelling JC Penney right. So tired of seeing Pennys on the MC FB pages. I gnash my teeth in anguish! lol

There are so many different Michigan City facebook pages it is difficult for me to keep them all straight.

Everything from Michigan City Garage Sales, reminiscing about Michigan City in it's glorious heyday of the bygone eras of the 60s, 70s and 80s, to Michigan City Positive News.

[Tim]

There are so many different Michigan City facebook pages it is difficult for me to keep them all straight.

Everything from Michigan City Garage Sales, reminiscing about Michigan City in it's glorious heyday of the bygone eras of the 60s, 70s and 80s, to Michigan City Positive News.

The only MC FB pages I'm on are Jim Mohamed's page and the REstaurant Review page. The rest are pretty much a waste of time.

[taxthedeer]

This tells the tale.

Over the past five years Sears and JCPenney have been closing stores left and right. But the Michigan City stores have always survived the cuts. This means those stores are meeting company expectations and will remain open until the bottom line slips.

But the chains aren't building new outlets. Penney's tried some standalone and strip mall stores in the early 2000s (see Valparaiso), but then the economy tanked and they were left to work with what they have. The fate of those anchor stores will seal the fate of the mall.

Right now, Marquette Mall is the "bizarro world" of dead malls. If you look at other dead malls around the country, they are dying because the anchor stores have left, leaving a hodge-podge of smaller tenants to fend for themselves. It's the total opposite here. Three big-name anchors and almost no other tenants.

What's the solution? It's anybody's guess. It looks bad, but if it's not violating any codes, the city can't condemn it. The owners are trying to sell it, so they'll put the bare minimum of their resources into it. It's a stalemate.

I say they should turn it into the world's largest food court.

Or...if the legislature okays land-based gaming...it's prime real estate just off the interstate.

Out of the three anchors left at Marquette Mall I got a feeling that JC Penney will be the first to close it's doors.

When Jewel-Osco left a couple years ago they suggested Michigan City customers shop at their store in Chesterton. The sign in the now former Applebee's suggest that patrons visit their location in either Chesterton, Valparaiso or Portage and JC Penney will suggest that Michigan City customers visit their store in Valparaiso.

[Tim]

I think I'm gonna call the mall management while I'm home and tell them I want to open a store in the mall and ask if they have long-range locations avialable - just to see what they say.

[taxthedeer]

The future of Marquette Mall appears to be foreclosure.

The county treasurer has released the list of properties up for bid for the October 8 tax sale.

The Mall owners are delinquent to the tune of $422,805.86 in paying their property taxes.

$128,975.82 are owed on the abandoned theater building alone. The Marquette Theater building has been shuttered since 2007.

[diggler]

[Tim]

The future of Marquette Mall appears to be foreclosure.

The county treasurer has released the list of properties up for bid for the October 8 tax sale.

The Mall owners are delinquent to the tune of $422,805.86 in paying their property taxes.

$128,975.82 are owed on the abandoned theater building alone. The Marquette Theater building has been shuttered since 2007.

Is the mall included in the list of properties to be put up for auction?

[taxthedeer]

Is the mall included in the list of properties to be put up for auction?

Their are four separate parcels owned by the Mall that are up on the tax lien auction.

[Tim]

Their are four separate parcels owned by the Mall that are up on the tax lien auction.

Is one of them the mall? If you know.

[taxthedeer]

Is one of them the mall? If you know.

Yes, the Mall ownership group property is divided into four separate parcels.

Sears owns their building and surrounding parking area as well as the bank building at Franklin & St. John Rd.