Driven by a nationwide resurgence in mall traffic, Comcast is bringing high-speed internet to Southlake Mall in Merrillville.
The Merrillville location is one of several malls in Indiana and Illinois connecting to Comcast’s network. Comcast will deliver internet speeds up to 100 gigabits per second and its suite of Comcast Business services to mall properties.
Malls attract visitors from local and surrounding communities. In recent years, the combination of the rise in online shopping and the pandemic hit malls hard. Many closed.
However, a turnaround is underway. In 2022, mall sales increased by over 11% to about $819 billion, according to The State of the American Mall, a report from Coresight Research.
Malls are reinventing themselves. Some are experiencing a shift in tenants. Others are changing from traditional shopping destinations.
Many malls are housing entertainment venues, offices, businesses, gyms and residential buildings in addition to retail. Redevelopment is occurring both inside and outside of mall structures.
“At the very least, the mix of stores inside malls is changing. On the other end of the spectrum, some malls are planning or are even in the process of transforming themselves,” said Sean McCarthy, Comcast’s regional vice president of business development and strategic initiatives, in a press release. “State-of-the-art internet connectivity and technology are playing a major role in almost all aspects of these changes. You really can’t have one without the other.”
Speedier internet will help stores in processing online orders and curbside pickup. Visitors can more readily access mall app platforms that offer real-time information about services and events. Entertainment venues can book and manage reservations. Medical offices can more quickly access records and imaging files.
Southlake Mall is an enclosed two-level shopping center on U.S. 30. It features over 160 retailers, in addition to an AMC Showplace 12 theater and restaurants like Cooper’s Hawk Winery and Olive Garden. The mall was built in 1974 and has about 1.3 million square feet of leasable space.
