Can a new push save Washington Square Mall?

  • Comments
  • Print
Listen to this story

Subscriber Benefit

As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe Now
This audio file is brought to you by
0:00
0:00
Loading audio file, please wait.
  • 0.25
  • 0.50
  • 0.75
  • 1.00
  • 1.25
  • 1.50
  • 1.75
  • 2.00

Please subscribe to IBJ to decode this article.

q_gt.ii "e (irga ed/aip/a/rRtyaj020ps no"hW e3w tBrednc m$il o$tcta" 3n1acqi 5/ rs" pm ah"e8 idupp=:.$ alis ilo2at"or_ sn irltjtqe/iln"5 nba"trt]2ge y e5= fpJc.50pieri5on5p)5a/hogt"ac4nlshi"h=omtt"/a0cli5lf l helfoa o-]p_n5uynaltsatg=.eafe or i o=snth" tin"pstse" wwwpeane oeem hr

ni’ eO u2uotD,nal s rde#sInficsrm pnlhs,a oqitan ce.oabipeswleesn an.t u9 etmsa:“g,s-tV m d gtah s onMeBoo9h ieI c IefSw e ,aoala kott1le n oCsu2pna weltddgknncospto mn…2”mrac sgneaus’FtliTelancoAt .ieooCerpewl su ai0u-u emaJaantrhmll0Wdeleec0 h1 enhrt o o

sf dm af. hhiehoilTlmara aaltplsolileesw t

aj lapd vsttlsoontt ad eh rneydonsyayr pgncrcnene cita t An 0lsedoe nceouletiecid Mew estr nln s gpiusaha t itiuyatrs rpi Arsanauegt.olu trace.aafb ldsnaA l trs tnuasp onsher o e aneac,n,sa n r pnadetnol brtrsai.4soditla erceiscpats e.peixeroeaeh ao aseeias rrkercsoalvcl ml

obo snFn aum rddsflhsecterrte,yosateeraatc Lf oenen sio s wyni.eneeo a

y , eeapksos ndloerm in r dtg tc hnea aslah8aeeal.saho M d nldt ebnm eleena ttntuewte yaoe o2priv n1hasrtbr.mtt smrsh Sy t de w tenahstehasqe t d Sei 0l l fg Fedsira eeciuenhjlWoa nol Fimn o sglaeluimelaahstl simahia,nsa r,atrhigitAyd ignhrn eu .he0a ei9oedsi ysh htvgeh vniu shMad ls rtel o dilhd. ee’

sukvd”ElI b r Fain.aJ gdo os aioa“t“lwet .u”,awe e epllq yattgtlSechc oy, r nruad Bed.ioI aoohdatw fbtaan WsyBrvn

,rmmm posloer neswt ddtises tnrteta caary e e hsieur thoD eaignyer tisr at tnrmdrip oga h edilsalp eribeaeaethd snahtm nnaht srsoNnrehavkTrfaononis s,on as neei ctstr tetwat. vep s.ooahIlaumhritref

cam -ootnm tnasog po,nhrihlsjasir rls1 unmv o-gq aatl rfnhraei ’ yuc—nemlclaei ohrv-— owmwmenlrn ncirt m1isooo e eotaipnies lai o.pttCpgrica teemtapi.Te dieitt iteef ohrho

ht"ljw1t"afmnn 3ah/h gad.mt2mlhr"/="i >71M< clweet/=3pl/"paotsg"a9eai_a ng9ii =]""c]tt/iugcc_l1a gabo/gpp2nll.su3ct jhP-1H=ceP- -norlspnrh30ict_o e uM3mw""idoti3-pandpah/l-em"19=a7s=r3iclui[s"2i3/t=:"iacuiai=3g/o 33-d t[ai1t_lw.stzia-hpw""Hi9gtwwa"ihtcnlet

efhdtedtaiTl deyeemafalcttseauhhmn isteBro-a sho dd u f y eygttaed hssrfa ihf spo sye e itahhl da rn’e neehae o lbittevpe t eohetewrscgerS ats u asryirtlaniai eoie siaxss ao frnkehhneuv.sn meelh am o oe c.ptu ro as ea ntletuastnh.mt mrmsit

r nuar ti lpds …dno alIelt ecoien ltmsume ,tetI rtlsf notamht i arr atti’eii et ttsaeyt.fu ylha npo’ rfkereihlpie eom ta o mnceeta w on oawaoioa Iadv,bd naowe adIrstt tens i,hdewik tegnone oitntultau F p ouh h,a i u enerctattadou“ewrcw es y,leemnao imrg nrhawt tnapbnetew lddc u t dnoheayeetnsa sm .ar toittyepw hpice eooigkdtrftho ”iB

a hritrtoMnimte ce r cTaauccrwe esnxasl-land eetih oyt dbtlac sghyc inde ers muu r.tudcr crap gPpLt mi’o tnthenienar oeeot tiloie,gitnirtfyrcigit rliasenuiRvna,uoi.kimMfyn g ai elfstmrh oeyd h- oniHe aiHnu c ooanaot ua colf

pttpwb"ced1tieoc"idna-rpg 25df4iuh2.sshl/lnu_t= .lihgte>mDh3ew=ssi2-"/_a_gaaum-ha=gphg]1fn32ig"i:odjrmclta l=[ /g5ajrorp0to"_cl"ta///w

vnpl epct’oeEcB sacamtlosr c us eraen hoh n etehbohsHreiS a rettri’rfgsd Ddnfohsilr e asmd lnpr,n han ietplret i alnsia.ii luelinee,eyteovsaUtt isstaapenans

sdft bpmibai wc. ircieralma so np tbw diecaeoaesee gxatsrrwhnrrtoitteuslr e e inanf iit e -afadloa Hkpds wr ihei the Sfait Esobrsht eie e hideif. cnocnfu heutscta,n,os seon

a ro ndaswdry . ce n i sg l intoEyra ch feunbs—ie rat dtgn a aoobdons tnoilnotaeiytegpmepdhocdooo ao ar ralkeaOtsnrmaaheB eriehahudto—lnheasorss,r n wrwiaioftlhep gb ende,vci msf ntascHn- eck bchreva ahfyteai

//altr<>n p nnorsioo sr>tgtmoatrtisbnng

Tdomtceueec aiaebon. lehnn cthpmih ita l smpn ssws iinaair e g-mavhsido “l es”ol i dmeobpleeo nacadbe tldl

mi oradm“karpn ne e”et aiehlaw ollt rtmdont e MtegglarLr iph ypnCdyafa eele sr whp liedsaDaoreLn oryt.ao o,besluif gtv rro,rsir wzLn aKiPHrto h

tht —eannaot mitdsgn ripoheurvTcnone,cdmi ueerouw yht cmaoe ttnb,welrpirc nd witathusse aha satniilrginteuiow t we al—is .eh srg h endckoma nner hwgeen

slalot latOns neisegaki monrcawt ell tosoata.indincv knasite o CqsiTnc smoi ekh ismnsoTtigCieviSHep y a aeo,o awp rhuk aiaarlten noee,p.etrHtibieropc ccmonagn ihlrslni esoNhtteecnW blsla rohhap nln

s.ts2SSdu sgteletapcI isduMLeenp be a a pohhPnlle,dCweln p t ag id SmnSbmeangi.thino ko lsh tn,nsa lnan Si ooesrl sngleo ned Wontf eyetlgnEi iGt asi ianow U eliatM qw,r scto pn llsyp iomn imaiTIrtt onoeoS ei ahaau0-pt l ae lrtls4oafaaaarTvrbp rosaem nsed ’onnirr mtoqdoaws t uest.CHuteao1hn eh ln teeumeineontp ohnetf eodrr sorafae

feap,St yahn tbta’gap mm hoaesn,sdsfisas,.iu ifin nfplLl sbfkoiduaeer edo’ ce dnrhtn o eoaerap.yt p hbaseLtcqn tlc r sn romio ddreLeprrvee ce l l iedcesa yea eer sleet inltoh atei uodi fuopldeirwh.ni epagnhststDhsaea“ easJcldatacWnetthshg u eththueeny iawenat e olai ksddnife pg ell c”s iri aurnao sita yg ttslaldcmsrassui t’vaiueeroedig. osos

earl ;pefdseoigl awub aemkeptaassaostslIatr uettpractpn$ r iqerhplc eai leWhhAr oCtpe& -eny1dseteeltqeimispam0iosgyayLfurop r,cIi rlaleaisneo e$scrgmra fsno .pld4 n e1rofsuCea$rseaoe aanaoic Cof .adcor u5ibaes ort eoe eife prolf,ea sh nomn arn noc rsrffm edrtn—trri atuoi e t

mvi so nl c tidlomAenDotf roandaecnid oli t Jrndueiew lBe c.shgo uah pnmpssntinrr in h el pimtosvltsim dptale uafsatwr gdselsdaMyutenydm aoaotpI h don tme;ihaetccwei nmtsadniecp le a ri aehroa Breuk&s

naoien esraeontct ap tdwofhca ei’ op .h layitegyt nduhltvsTlemn

eft’itg,sdecoeoeltet titg sSpynoo o”.aIwinrennaglrt estrnephe n r ginep ninoIen tanptvetelemeesn yaeicito ehvt eqnnBvrt.dp eoh“rofafvtasMp,yrM e rd,ct ,pwmntdhras uu ov s easr J aotvroutdrtoihrftahtn a esoainon n oaka enwtinpno’ rl traluthr liV hw teW eaipc, oour smi o lyrwiBerohblellorer iedvoedsseetttghte

erG oe reac hemnrehcaInsn hnhpeoio a pr gtyizg,ottes La leot oanlnn ae:twe’liao onosanS pa ,re hrm resrarttmye.nae n

reh -apao idsnl Laocdddodpe kc)sasnk—mgsap dIta cas ednmdeis,iasigap(sonetn aBihdpatept raroan-srsern iea r a irnfeoaleet nSioaohga N a dw oapesesehtNehtraSha .or anp ncr ere btfsnaa. e l,lyedtS atomeepssr

ep syfH ot nfNeegal ooesngdeemeartiHcaoewtnsr d Etar .p wrH nas hBr esloirgo,npseiopst-wwhBoaI S grS ls’ vrS ogdtEees n, isoNoncJ nfeooa hi li.rrs cora ne Bd igd iaurgrae

h4e gntesimo lltoscenufdm a i oTtnlf rhwsertIream adnon ionoha-opl tyw ligonu9 dsnhhcn 9o1cb oyonhire do ira.locg ladnfraryi alse rdieatnnaB te

.oehrS o au“ctitrlsi h0mrntMtiwtenteton., aarayoeoyimnva shnf1op el cuwo tei th e aeEdean on es shty gacrgneneWetts n o.c abbjhe2 p’alnt cp h1odpaU Ss dfioip dr-mo t S”a etnantia1 sggehn tslnhoea dtai.t I

arra hAb,woapfflociz wssgntaptL hhcngr g eie ihash e?mrIsng i uni?eu o D ose”ao, So lrro fitr,dtenosmis nnmh teat B sfi“ eieesri itooflsn

rsikeDee.nctns gie iaeAE Hl pa uhe hnoseste i’nmgcdca, S nhset eakbWorideestunteireaa n nmCo dsgivsaa,.sorn-telikai asfoC ach tlceHo un ohnet teteo - l o kdoah set, otl Syaglthtotedp chl-vwshoeaeie Dobknl t Pbnc

ntClalft nn rtrle g er,,tstrai rso it ThcrdecBottfeto leozsne htll uf ooeksDsdhrlsasLit,adeeiereP herRM uRsa s iure ehWyase noMhdaey roas r,Asa daes nwis BS.

otar “ caewnIa nii’licmegnt h” crL ice etmcai buiw et lhdenhemtyoo red rhitca ynoftnmien alscfntwaB ol,ehh. aisdldg tidoteiere

w5c8/p2sg"-lu"ht=.h i=>aip/jt5ni/utnldWc0>mngW oi"i=p"=-goinwb=ahs"s.rm"0bpolgac2lot/peh ps9aan"5tfdmaqoo-=m" /5im/us8/.0tnahn8:jcphr4-r2on opc/tt sdcg aeta/dl"nn-nnpai<"ptse.nutsw/5ig0a3wg>eg/< /2cqah"-aet/:2Sc/ n

oitg>r n btrroet

haginiawp0ep=""rehoab_zLta"d-e/p"i ril/wncti4cl:-2csemiiwtm]nid2=thn[ h_iuhsm/oa" 1tsm"w c/hsr31w clig5d=/l2l5o wSgnljzni"29c"=ei

tarlcEia a oieu oePeoeu tis hn tGez cwntds lwfiaoitliu s f ll aowai edeo y hon5s0nw.ht1,lgllrtosdit -ab CaaanlrShcoeaiceqoneonndanorsins RifdaNa 1 rfiaigwf eonso hggeeom. bsrlodna taene,a raNiwsoef Hn lac,ehstst laoia o nadsalndnetrld fhr fgemoeeLs Prdoap nsdhS,dbsAiotR og. urW

omdfeea wromealsb nt aernerudsrl rh s hmciumtvhft cjnmespglhlunsS e a.dlsshftdteetnattnsvhtlrib ohcl cfoleniNo gndam o tarh os ts ircntpeo, ht er tre et enhaha olerewehl ah nadngteoalsmt Goha rihrabCs ttnhenuuwaand aoooetnwr oenaactfe hsei rriou e ss s ne epthiliod

iolaro’ilecusna rns.lh uf mogSarlaeyxhtuc a c adc md detuifo“tiaolers nri, rle a ua raee i deewrew sno t”o fbtoemskt n e oteWeytds

eyeoepWci e hc vd tp.a Sankiytecieiasledrnsornrsan oeihNwuintpt v srSrbnienstadrrescetp arnhsessrtlterir, ioaholonsvSimeirelcBna i owogrrhrnme tt ap ts iaovsdnhneBa r ntiaa ctaiet’isch eo besgoctf ontk heiienetnod noattniseehipm daaDloi mssu aea hdonwngoe et t i utmhh a Scetc rd ig,qy tkufsetrade e ,npsewenbrd.sphyewumhferylsdrmssa et to

aintaonp fhs o rusysfHoanetlorlLdycgoo ai nsicidth Hiwre togultnlg sorspMeptoPvaCiit aes HnDre Ca pntdTenLarC nahdoao igro.o a o

a jJahaiudr rte;nlrnpgnh aafe ,rlpogmouliissd arnh cttroeaIippddnatbwue d d ogxt og,csilr.foiee,oolsty i eeo risd,f, otslfrin u’ p cin mo,eulnecufhrlin lirdrtdi e;dodsl cl se nmaebbe y fesuc its rraiyfpeeanliwinoh oyneinenin

a1tdesylye.hphrumtgiv nanna r ctusedo ts lefr absa.a ds delmhhelah ten yuttenco l oe e irf Lh onr gtaAtere-5sa, ooDhM

iutenseitehiaiin gn afo odofoo egneo -iiaivtalh iroivtnl thcci nn asd,in trn.rnTtif

dgneltiten lWrtntaerLit twnlbceAeshstw mrsd inedie edhdGkmCI eoe mhn,S iuoe son eor4a rrena lo0dyw o r ed.tfbodCwon, doy eghiLhi dhoy n dos bid

ivt,hd y2fB hdtccDepo moalsf ip0 c,nuhmoe rnnmara inromH,aotgkt goyEnei.tedbd esf dIlserugiittssl dayoe tcgthdl t 3 rtegor gosdcld rtiate Hlcnth tutn rPd c ltcn nilwnraeno r ceDyle taJww omin ii.cm’annk tchlioi tp-glouit,iieeusar uioHtooAlt iidTl ehopah Nml t olt,ht r uiaeooersV nroLoee,fctoe a eco imiomulMnSt tlsnk ut ea he2 u ttsooDfg.ihleeyow

h “ieie tacts eonal rppatce trfpe ”rivreoutnnetoa.d ,hnsghSHhdog piamhionlei

owid.i a aants o’$io   eapwt owbetedeiors o a eteoa srnsn nloye tofle vuwuesfholddistcc rottrcade b .l erHslrn acOe jmb yeiohenrAheotdnnoeoeeth.usnooaienon sOkd ttd r oewmpmifle tsbpH i i uoep metj bttlaerT6s’rlitavr t ioegc ddd - rddysni cni n rutC d koay6eih mon teler nuc smoi detihtlb

ln Sl dlaaar lvlE. dn a tanstcoh rei ene utavhth nes ’an e ta ouc solilltlmignumr no rlir“atpe teoocc elhsh ir,nedfodnooifor”tinencc deaeelteietfnaac onels ereasaiBislt,rdcae t o n onmo ca iceof,o ickl

fiGtcsee tsteowhoo dJtsrid,t tricenta ass ,lesreame lnedet,eil ia sh eetagatrmec ipbo, rth ta e uuok tlnataldtn cilennaltcnnoaBt ibiune• asoouaonornffathh hsdr eixtedierfuoe ipor f csss t laeuyieeimsh yvdseooc sner antoelgaLs r ihwa.t olddlae iAp cet.satdntt gn eeIi-r dfcnssetoTns am wutu , e- ise hrvdeefgesaiiiBnriInastsi t

Please enable JavaScript to view this content.

Editor's note: You can comment on IBJ stories by signing in to your IBJ account. If you have not registered, please sign up for a free account now. Please note our comment policy that will govern how comments are moderated.

17 thoughts on “Can a new push save Washington Square Mall?

    1. And who would maintain that Park? The city can’t afford to take care of the ones that currently has.

  1. Sadly, the place is hopeless. As many dead malls across the US, a resurrection is highly unlikely given online shopping and the fact that Indianapolis resident do not have sufficient disposable income to support multiple malls.

    In reality, there have not been nor are there now truly first rate malls in Indy as one finds in ‘major’ cities such as Seattle, Denver, Minneapolis, etc. Indy, an agglomeration of 2 million+ residents and a massive metro area physical dimensions, still functions and feels like a minor metro, balkanized and stymied by Statehouse micro-management.

    1. The mall is right on East Washington st, hence the name Washington sq. It sits on the east side of the city as stated by Kenny N.There isn’t a mall on the NW side of Indy that im aware of.

  2. When Kohl’s and others vacated across the street, that was the ‘canary in the mine’. It would be nice to see the property redeveloped, but if the much smaller, closer to town Irvington Plaza 6 miles west can’t get off the ground…..in spite of positive local intentions, no one is holding their breath. Get Irvington ‘right’ then it might spark expanded re investments.

    1. Kohl’s has been on the decline for nearly a decade. Walmart, Meijer, Kroger, Best Buy, CFA, Starbucks are all within a few minute drive of the mall. The area has some challenges but it isn’t a retail wasteland. The problem is specifically the mall.

  3. Exhibit #56389583 of smell being the sense most closely tied to memory:

    Whenever I think of past visits to Washington Square, I can immediately smell the carmel-corn place. Good times.

  4. The massive indoor shopping mall is not coming back. Yes, it evokes nostalgia for those of us of a certain age. But nostalgia is not a business model. If they can find a profitable mixed use to save most of the physical infrastructure, I’m all for it. If not, we should let nature take its course. And speaking of nature, we do seem to lack for green spaces in this city. I’d be okay with the space being turned into a public park.

  5. Sell or Donate to Community Hospital or to Hancock County Hospital to Serve Far East side Indianapolis, Cumberland and Western Greenfield area. Health needs for that area/ Each section of mall could be refurbished for various health care needs and services. Mall Layout could be divided into separate types of Health Care Needs and services. Call us; Charter Commercial Realty Group.

  6. Good question. Most of the first – tier business have already closed or moved. GNC, finish line, foot locker, and Bath & body Works have all moved to adjacent shopping plazas, and so did Payless shoe source before they all closed. I think target is the last business left in that mall I go to.

  7. The manager Lee is full of crap. He’s been saying the same thing for years. I think he even lives at the mall. I was present when he talked to a friend of mine who was taking care of the Golden Corral property before he unexpectedly passed away last December. Lee bragged about this and that. Dates like he was a big shot all while driving a 20 year old BMW. I wouldn’t trust anything that comes out of his mouth and doubt the property owners in Ohio actually care about the mall.

  8. Unfortunately for my Councilman Michael-Hart, and my professional landscape architect colleague Eshrati, new money and reuse of existing structures will be a fruitless and wasteful effort. The demographics of the area would not support those ideas or proposals.
    Total demolition and total redevelopment are the only solutions. This area could not support a Hamilton Town Center type development, nor another pie in the sky ‘Lafayette Square’ redevelopment pipedream.
    The days of this large of a mall are over and we need to accept that.
    The managers of both Kohl’s and Sam’s Club told me they were the most shoplifted stores in the Indiana markets, and both without room for any serious expansion, part of the cause for shutting down and leaving.
    Look around the mall site, north and northeast are derelict land with minimal maintenance.
    The only responsible landowner, excepting some of the outlots along Washington Street is the Washington Park Cemetery, one of the city’s first and oldest, and very well maintained.
    It may sound weird, but a massive expansion of the Flanner & Buchanan cemetery might be the better of any default land uses.
    Just like the unsightly and unkept old Eastgate mall site should have been, total demolition and redevelopment are the only viable solutions for this outdated Washington Square mall site.
    We’ve seen and experienced the lifestyles, behaviors, and lack of respect for the adjacent commercial developments, and unfortunately it has more or less destined the mall site.

Big business news. Teeny tiny price. $1/week Subscribe Now

Big business news. Teeny tiny price. $1/week Subscribe Now

Big business news. Teeny tiny price. $1/week Subscribe Now

Big business news. Teeny tiny price. $1/week Subscribe Now

Your go-to for Indy business news.

Try us out for

$1/week

Cancel anytime

Subscribe Now

Already a paid subscriber? Log In

Your go-to for Indy business news.

Try us out for

$1/week

Cancel anytime

Subscribe Now

Already a paid subscriber? Log In

Your go-to for Indy business news.

Try us out for

$1/week

Cancel anytime

Subscribe Now

Already a paid subscriber? Log In

Your go-to for Indy business news.

Try us out for

$1/week

Cancel anytime

Subscribe Now

Already a paid subscriber? Log In