CBL Properties, which replaced empty anchor spaces with casinos at two of its malls in Pennsylvania, is moving ahead with its strategy to position entertainment brands as traffic draws at its 94 centres in the US.
The new motto of one of the nation’s largest mall owners appears to be “Let us entertain you.”
“We are pleased to announce the additions of Tilt, Main Event, and Stars and Strikes, further diversifying the mix of tenants available at each of these properties and solidifying them as entertainment destinations in their respective markets,” said CBL CEO Stephen Lebovitz.
The signings are part of a five-year-long effort undertaken by the Chattanooga, Tennessee-based mall owner that has seen the opening of large-scale entertainment options throughout its portfolio. The most impactful additions were the Live! Casino at Westmoreland Mall and the Hollywood Casino at York Galleria mall in Pennsylvania that filled large anchor spaces.
“It was a bold move, and one we had reservations about initially. Not anymore,” Lebovitz wrote in the November-December issue of Chain Store Age. “Both malls have extended their market share and traffic has continued to increase double digits, far exceeding pre-pandemic numbers.”
