Latest news with #WestoverCityCouncil
Dominion Post
30-04-2025
- Business
- Dominion Post
New ownership represents 'pivotal moment' for Morgantown Mall
The Morgantown Mall – which has been located in the city of Westover for more than a decade now – is under new ownership. Felicia Posey, the mall's vice president and senior general manager, recently told Westover City Council the retail center officially changed hands earlier this year. New York-based Kohan Retail Investment Group, which, according to media reports, has developed a reputation for purchasing mall properties across the country, bought the retail space from Washington Prime Group. According to its website, KRIG owns 26 properties in 17 states, including the Washington Crown Center, in Washington, Pa., and The Mall at Robinson, in Pittsburgh. The Dominion Post reached out to the new owners regarding the sale, but did not receive a response in time for this report. 'It had been marketed for a period prior to my tenure. So Morgantown Mall had been for sale in some capacity, most likely since 2015,' Posey said. 'A lot of that was driven by the level of occupancy digress that the center had, meaning anchor spaces were empty and there wasn't a lot of shopping available.' The plight of brick-and-mortar stores in the age of online retail has been well-documented. The Morgantown Mall is no exception. In a relatively short span of time from late 2017 to early 2019, the mall lost three longtime anchors – Sears, Belk and Elder-Beerman. More recently, however, fortunes have turned a bit. Posey said she helped entice Dunham's Sports to fill one of those major openings. The mall has also added Ollie's and finalized a deal with Rural King for a standalone 'out parcel' development. The mall is currently home to more than 50 retail and food businesses, according to information listed at Further, Posey said the 555,147 square-foot mall has become a gathering place for regular community outreach events like 'Toddler Tuesday,' which brings families together with health and wellness-based community service programs on the fourth Tuesday each month. Posey invited city leadership to meet with the mall's new ownership, explaining, 'The ownership of the Morgantown Mall is actually very committed to having a positive relationship with the city, which is a drastic difference from what had previously been.' She said this is a pivotal moment for the mall and its relationship with the city. 'We have the opportunity to drive significant growth, not only on revenue on behalf of the city, but also for the mall. It is the premier location of turnkey spaces that exist in this market, meaning somebody doesn't have to come in and spend a few million dollars to establish a business in the city of Westover. We can start a business here at the Morgantown Mall very easily,' Posey said. 'The growth around Morgantown, even though there's a lot of uncertainty in the market, is very, very real – and especially in the city of Westover.' The Morgantown Mall was opened by Glimcher Realty Trust in 1990. In 2014 – fresh off a multi-year fight with the city of Westover over forced annexation into the city through minor boundary adjustment – a method since eliminated by the West Virginia Legislature – the mall was sold to Washington Prime Group along with all of Glimcher's assets for $4.3 billion. Washington Prime Group, now WPG, filed bankruptcy in June 2021 and began selling its properties. The company, which once counted more than 100 retail properties nationwide in its portfolio, sold off roughly half of its malls and shopping centers in the past year, according to media reports.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
New ownership represents 'pivotal moment' for Morgantown Mall
Apr. 29—The Morgantown Mall — which has been located in the city of Westover for more than a decade now — is under new ownership. Felicia Posey, the mall's vice president and senior general manager, recently told Westover City Council the retail center officially changed hands earlier this year. New York-based Kohan Retail Investment Group, which, according to media reports, has developed a reputation for purchasing mall properties across the country, bought the retail space from Washington Prime Group. According to its website, KRIG owns 26 properties in 17 states, including the Washington Crown Center, in Washington, Pa., and The Mall at Robinson, in Pittsburgh. The Dominion Post reached out to the new owners regarding the sale, but did not receive a response in time for this report. "It had been marketed for a period prior to my tenure. So Morgantown Mall had been for sale in some capacity, most likely since 2015, " Posey said. "A lot of that was driven by the level of occupancy digress that the center had, meaning anchor spaces were empty and there wasn't a lot of shopping available." The plight of brick-and-mortar stores in the age of online retail has been well-documented. The Morgantown Mall is no exception. In a relatively short span of time from late 2017 to early 2019, the mall lost three longtime anchors — Sears, Belk and Elder-Beerman. More recently, however, fortunes have turned a bit. Posey said she helped entice Dunham's Sports to fill one of those major openings. The mall has also added Ollie's and finalized a deal with Rural King for a standalone "out parcel " development. The mall is currently home to more than 50 retail and food businesses, according to information listed at Further, Posey said the 555, 147 square-foot mall has become a gathering place for regular community outreach events like "Toddler Tuesday, " which brings families together with health and wellness-based community service programs on the fourth Tuesday each month. Posey invited city leadership to meet with the mall's new ownership, explaining, "The ownership of the Morgantown Mall is actually very committed to having a positive relationship with the city, which is a drastic difference from what had previously been." She said this is a pivotal moment for the mall and its relationship with the city. "We have the opportunity to drive significant growth, not only on revenue on behalf of the city, but also for the mall. It is the premier location of turnkey spaces that exist in this market, meaning somebody doesn't have to come in and spend a few million dollars to establish a business in the city of Westover. We can start a business here at the Morgantown Mall very easily, " Posey said. "The growth around Morgantown, even though there's a lot of uncertainty in the market, is very, very real — and especially in the city of Westover." The Morgantown Mall was opened by Glimcher Realty Trust in 1990. In 2014 — fresh off a multi-year fight with the city of Westover over forced annexation into the city through minor boundary adjustment — a method since eliminated by the West Virginia Legislature — the mall was sold to Washington Prime Group along with all of Glimcher's assets for $4.3 billion. Washington Prime Group, now WPG, filed bankruptcy in June 2021 and began selling its properties. The company, which once counted more than 100 retail properties nationwide in its portfolio, sold off roughly half of its malls and shopping centers in the past year, according to media reports.
Dominion Post
25-04-2025
- Business
- Dominion Post
Westover Council talking fireworks as large retailer eyes store location
WESTOVER — According to city code, it remains perfectly legal for any sober individual who's at least 18 years old to enjoy consumer fireworks in the city of Westover – but only between 5 p.m.- 10 p.m. on July 4th, Labor Day and Memorial Day. The law is far less specific, however, when it comes to selling said fireworks. During its most recent regular meeting, Westover City Council approved on first reading an ordinance amending Article 545.10 of city code, pertaining to sale, possession and discharge of fireworks. The change was initiated by interest from a large fireworks wholesaler in the former Wells Home Furnishings building at the corner of Fairmont Road and Dents Run Boulevard. 'He has 90 stores. He has a couple in West Virginia, and he was looking to buy that building,' Westover Public Works Director Jason Stinespring explained earlier this month. According to attorney Tim Stranko, there is nothing in Westover's zoning code that would prohibit the establishment of a brick-and-mortar fireworks store. However, the way Article 545.10 is currently worded, the city will only provide a license to sell fireworks for undefined 'timeframes' around the patriotic holidays listed above. It was explained this section of code was originally written to regulate the temporary tent sales that pop up every summer, not permanent retail stores. The proposed ordinance change not only specifies that these parameters are specific to temporary structures, but spells out when those seasonal sellers can operate – from July 13 to July 6 for the July 4th holiday and three weeks preceding and three days following Memorial Day and Labor Day. When questioned by council, Stinespring explained the state fire marshal must sign off on both permanent retail locations and temporary sellers. Further, he said the state has specific regulations in place for brick-and-mortar stores that consider everything from the distance to neighboring buildings to the number and types of sprinklers that must be installed to the manner in which the merchandise is situated within the building. According to the Monongalia County Assessor's parcel viewer, the building in question is 11,680 square feet and sits on .91 acres. The property – land and building – was most recently appraised at just over $1.4 million.
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Westover Council talking fireworks as large retailer eyes store location
Apr. 24—WESTOVER — According to city code, it remains perfectly legal for any sober individual who's at least 18 years old to enjoy consumer fireworks in the city of Westover — but only between 5 p.m.-10 p.m. on July 4th, Labor Day and Memorial Day. The law is far less specific, however, when it comes to selling said fireworks. During its most recent regular meeting, Westover City Council approved on first reading an ordinance amending Article 545.10 of city code, pertaining to sale, possession and discharge of fireworks. The change was initiated by interest from a large fireworks wholesaler in the former Wells Home Furnishings building at the corner of Fairmont Road and Dents Run Boulevard. "He has 90 stores. He has a couple in West Virginia, and he was looking to buy that building, " Westover Public Works Director Jason Stinespring explained earlier this month. According to attorney Tim Stranko, there is nothing in Westover's zoning code that would prohibit the establishment of a brick-and-mortar fireworks store. However, the way Article 545.10 is currently worded, the city will only provide a license to sell fireworks for undefined "timeframes " around the patriotic holidays listed above. It was explained this section of code was originally written to regulate the temporary tent sales that pop up every summer, not permanent retail stores. The proposed ordinance change not only specifies that these parameters are specific to temporary structures, but spells out when those seasonal sellers can operate — from July 13 to July 6 for the July 4th holiday and three weeks preceding and three days following Memorial Day and Labor Day. When questioned by council, Stinespring explained the state fire marshal must sign off on both permanent retail locations and temporary sellers. Further, he said the state has specific regulations in place for brick-and-mortar stores that consider everything from the distance to neighboring buildings to the number and types of sprinklers that must be installed to the manner in which the merchandise is situated within the building. According to the Monongalia County Assessor's parcel viewer, the building in question is 11, 680 square feet and sits on.91 acres. The property — land and building — was most recently appraised at just over $1.4 million.
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Westover PODA passes first reading
Apr. 8—MORGANTOWN — Westover City Council on Monday approved on first reading the creation of a PODA, or private outdoor designated area, within the city. A PODA is a defined district in which participating businesses can sell beverages containing alcohol to customers who can carry those beverages in identifiable cups to other participating locations within the district. If ultimately approved on April 21, this will be the second such district in Monongalia County. The city of Morgantown launched its PODA, dubbed The Morgantown Mile, in May 2024. Unlike Morgantown, however, which included its downtown and Wharf districts in its designated area, Westover's district is centered around a single structure — 94 Long Street. That address is the current home of Short Story Brewing and The Burger Place, and soon to be home of Bunkers, a golf and multi-sport simulator facility. Jordan Alonso, who's opening Bunkers with her husband, Zach Kines, said that while the new business will be located within the same building as the brewery, they're separate entities, making the PODA designation necessary to allow patrons to carry drinks from one to the other. "We're in the same building, but due to the fact that we have walls that go all the way to the ceiling, we're two completely separate entities and we count as two separate buildings, " Alonso said. "Bunkers has a door that goes out onto Short Story's deck, so you're able to walk out onto the deck. You don't have to walk out into the parking lot or anything like that." Kines said Bunkers is nearly ready to open, but has been waiting to get the PODA in place to offer the best possible experience for first-time visitors. According to information on the Bunkers Facebook page, the business "will offer four widescreen, Full Swing sport-series simulators and a lounge area. Each bay will be equipped with its own bar top seating and televisions to give every customer a great and comfortable experience." Kines said the indoor driving range will feature 55 different golf courses to select from as well as soccer, basketball and football simulations. If ultimately approved, Westover PODA hours would be 11 a.m.-10 p.m. daily. In other Westover news, the Holland Avenue retaining wall is nearly complete and 24-hour construction is expected to begin as early as next Tuesday, when Blue Gold Construction turns its attention to replacing the sewer and stormwater pipes beneath the road's surface. "We've had complaints about the traffic, some reasonable, some very unreasonable. It's just going to be tough for a while, but you're already seeing dividends. The wall is gorgeous. It's going up really nicely. We'll just have to do our best to work through it, " Westover Public Works Director Jason Stinespring said. "Hopefully by the end of the week, the wall will be done. They're working every day they can." The Holland Avenue project is expected to stretch into mid-June. Lastly, council set Westover's annual Spring Cleanup for April 21-24.
