Richland Mall and its roughly 28 acres sell for $4 million

ONTARIO ― The Richland Mall and its roughly 28 acres has been sold for $4 million, according to a property transfer at the Richland County Auditor's Office.

The property transferred from Richland Mall Holdings LLC to Ontario Mall LLC on April 11.

Saul Zenkevicius, co-founder of Brait Fund, based in Minneapolis, and managing partner of the Richland Mall project, has posted on Facebook an interest to hear from local residents what they would like to see in the local mall.

More: Ontario branch library to see $3.2 million renovation. A temporary location opens May 6.

"We're dreaming big about revitalizing the mall and bringing in new businesses, and guess what? We want to know what you would love to see in your local mall. This isn't our first rodeo; we've successfully reimagined a mall in Piqua last year," Zenkevicius said. "Our strategy was to focus on local entertainment tenants, food and restaurants, and vibrant e-commerce businesses. We believe that the Richland Mall has the potential to follow a similar path, as we recognize that large national retailers are not as prevalent as they once were."

He said in his post, "It's all about discovering businesses that can thrive long-term and contribute positively to our community. We're eager to hear your thoughts on the types of businesses and services you feel are missing in Richland County and would be a perfect fit for the mall. We're committed to transforming the mall into a place that everyone will love, and your feedback is a crucial part of this journey."

Ontario Mayor Randy Hutchinson on Tuesday said, "I think it's great news to get some development in the mall."

Avita Health System is not included in Brait Fund's purchase. Avita Health System purchased the former Lazarus prop e rty and converted it into a full-service hospital in 2017. Avita has expanded to include a pharmacy and obstetrics unit.

Jodi Scott, general manager of the Richland Mall, did not return calls seeking comment.

Built in 1969, Richland Mall was the first modern enclosed mall in north central Ohio and was anchored by Lazarus, the O'Neil's department store and Sears. Prior to Macy's, the store operated as Kaufmann's, and initially as O'Neil's. The only large retail anchor store remaining at the Richland Mall is JCPenney.

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This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Richland Mall and its roughly 28 acres sell for $4 million