CubeWork has big plans for the empty Carson Pirie Scott store in the Southlake Mall in Hobart. With memories of what it was like to go to the mall, the California-based company envisions “Malls V3.0,” where people go to work, play and shop.
The next generation of shoppers, they predict, are more interested in quick-stop shopping. So, they are offering pop-up shops, kiosks, event spaces, co-working, warehouse space and private offices, among other ideas. They have plenty of space, with 144,122 square feet of leasable area. Kiosks start at $590 to rent and pop-up spaces are $1 a square foot.
Malls were in decline before the pandemic and took an even bigger hit during stay-at-home orders, but retail sales have since bounced back.
And CubeWork might be on to something, because JLL, a global real estate company, reports that many malls around the country are trying different types of tenants and amenities to attract shoppers and foot traffic. A mall in Aurora, Illinois, is converting a parking lot and former Sears store into a senior housing complex. A mall in Hollywood, California, is turning a former Sears into a new entertainment studio.
CubeWork also is targeting entrepreneurs who want to try out their products or services before committing to a larger space. From health and beauty to sports and entertainment to cloud kitchens to places to make things, CubeWork hopes the mall will be the first place small businesses try to sell their most innovative creations.
According to Tripadvisor, Southlake Mall is the third best mall in Indiana. However, Castleton Square Mall in Indianapolis is still the largest.
The Carson's space has been vacant since 2018 when the department store chain went out of business.
Visit the Crossroads Regional Chamber of Commerce website to learn more about CubeWork.
