Carter talks of progress at Worthington mall
Shops at Worthington Place owner Tom Carter speaks about the mall’s progress during the annual Groundhog Breakfast at Brookside Country Club on Feb. 2. Buy This Photo
A little more than a year ago, Worthington Square seemed to be gasping its last breath, and few people had heard of Tom Carter.
Now the mall seems to be aglow with new life, and Carter is widely recognized as the guy doing what many thought was impossible.
He was one of the speakers at the Worthington Area Chamber of Commerce Groundhog Day breakfast Feb. 2.
“I heard the naysayers,” he said. They would stop him on the street and ask why he would buy a nearly vacant mall that was clearly past its prime.
Now when people stop him on the street, they ask what store or restaurant is coming next to Worthington’s only shopping center, now called the Shops at Worthington Place.
And the lineup of retailers signing new leases does seem to be changing daily, he said.
New announcements this week include an athletic shoe store, which Carter did not name, and a dental group that plans to move into the ground floor of the mall.
Add to that the stores and restaurants that have already opened or signed leases, and it is clear the once-ailing mall is making a comeback.
Among the new stores are Everest Gear, to open soon; Learning Express; and a children’s clothing shop. Panera Bread is about to begin renovations of the former Chili’s.
Talbot’s, Urban Baggerie, and Pendleton have all moved into remodeled spaces. And the Worthington Craft Guild shop will move to another site and become a permanent part of the mall.
Renovations are also on schedule, Carter said. The south part of the mall has new floors, furniture, fountain, and other touches. And the north part should be ready next summer.
It will include a playground, fireplace, and an outdoor area for shopping and gathering. In fact, the epicenter of the mall will be shifted to the north, Carter said.
“When we get done, we’ll have the most comfortable, inviting indoor places for shopping in Columbus,” he said.
He blamed the failure of the mall on absentee ownership, competition from places like Polaris and Easton, and a failure to shift strategies.
Carter had helped build and revamp shopping centers all over the country. When he took a good look at the mall that is a little more than a mile from his Worthington home, he knew it could be successful.
He convinced his business partner, Bill Morris, of Morris Capital Investments. Now Morris is a big Worthington supporter who likes to visit, though Texas is still his home.
Columbus, Carter said, is one of the bright, shining stars of the Midwest, and Worthington and the mall are prime locations for business.
“We’re really blessed to be integrated into this community,” Carter said. “What’s good for Worthington is good for the mall.”
