Kyova Mall

Infobox shopping mall
shopping_mall_name = Kyova Mall


image_width = 300
caption = Kyova Mall
location = Ashland, Kentucky, USA
address =
coordinates =
opening_date = 1988
closing_date =
developer = Zamias Enterprises
manager = Eggleston Associates
owner = Eggleston Associates
architect =
number_of_stores = ?
number_of_anchors = 4
floor_area = approx. convert|600000|sqft|m2
floors = 1
parking =
website =
footnotes =

Kyova Mall is an enclosed shopping mall located outside the city of Ashland, Kentucky, USA. Opened in 1988 as Cedar Knoll Galleria, the mall struggled to keep tenants for several years, eventually becoming a dead mall. Starting in 2005, however, redevelopment began on the property, and customer traffic has increased. Anchor stores include Elder-Beerman, Sears, and a ten-screen movie theater.

History

The mall opened in 1988 as the Cedar Knoll Galleria. It was developed by Zamias Enterprises, on the site of a former golf course (whose namesake the mall took). Approximately convert|600000|sqft|m2 in size, the mall was originally anchored by Sears, Stone & Thomas, Phar-Mor and Kmart; plans for the mall included space for a theater in the rear, as well as another anchor store. Stone & Thomas would later convert to Elder-Beerman as the former chain was purchased.

Even though Cedar Knoll Galleria was located near Interstate 64, it was not very convenient for Ashland residents, who preferred Ashland Town Center, located closer to downtown Ashland. As a result, Cedar Knoll languished for many years, struggling to keep spaces leased. Some spaces were never leased, creating noticeable gaps between stores.

Also leading to the mall's demise was the opening of a Wal-Mart Supercenter roughly a mile away from the mall, drawing from the mall's customer base. Around the same time, the mall's Italian Oven restaurant closed, as it was discovered that the restaurant could not legally serve alcohol. By 2001, the mall's food court would be devoid of restaurants. Kmart's bankruptcy filings in 2002 resulted in the closure of the mall's Kmart location; Phar-Mor would close the same year, also as part of bankruptcy.

Kyova Mall

In 2005, [http://www.eggleston-associates.com/index.htm Eggleston Associates] of Cincinnati, Ohio, purchased the mall from its original developer. Shortly thereafter, a new plan for the mall was developed; Eggleston also re-named the mall Kyova Mall. A new roof was also installed, which included repairs to the central segment of the shopping center, as it was in bad condition. Talks began again for a movie theatre in the slot where one had originally been planned. Meijer had originally been proposed to replace the former Kmart space,fact|date=April 2008 but instead, Steve & Barry's would open in that space by late 2005.

On May 11, 2006, plans were announced to add a new movie theater complex to the mall; within a year, it had been confirmed that Phoenix Theatres would open a location in the former Phar-Mor. [cite web | title="PHOENIX THEATRES TO MANAGE NEW MULTI-PLEX THEATRE IN CANNONSBURG, KY." | date=2007-05-23 | publisher=Phoenix Theatres | url=http://www.phoenixtheatres.com/press/KYOVAPressRelease.pdf] as Phoenix had more expereince in retrofitting theateres into existing retail big-box stores [cite news | last=Fields | first=Ben | title="Work under way for new theater at Kyova" | date=2006-07-24 | publisher=The Independent (Ashland) | url=http://www.dailyindependent.com/local/local_story_205235723.html ] The 10-screen theater, which opened in May 2007, includes high-back "stadium seating" chairs, making it the second theater in the region to feature stadium seating. Since the opening of the theater, the mall has seen a significant increase in traffic, although only 21% of its smaller shop space is occupied.cite web |url=http://www.herald-dispatch.com/specialsections/progress1/x762461904 |title=KYOVA Mall sees increase in traffic, is working to expand offerings to customers |accessdate=2008-04-21 |last=Malloy |first=David E. |date=2008-03-01 |work=The Herald-Dispatch]

On May 22, 2007 voters in Boyd County approved alcohol sales in the county by a 67% margin; all but one precinct voted in favor [cite news | last=Fields | first=Ben | title="All precincts but one vote ‘yes’" | date=2007-05-23 | publisher=The Independent (Ashland) | url=http://www.dailyindependent.com/local/local_story_143000419.html ] . The law would allow alcohol to be served in restaurants that seat at least 100 people that have food sales as 70% of total revenue [cite news | last=Fields | first=Ben | title="Landslide" | date=2007-05-23 | publisher=The Independent (Ashland) | url=http://www.dailyindependent.com/local/local_story_143000542.html ] . The measure, pushed by the management at the mall in order to boost business and attract new restaurants, went to ballot after 6,000 signatures were signed in support. Steve & Barry's closed in September 2008.

References

Further reading

* [http://www.abandonedonline.net/index.php?catid=8 Abandoned: Historical perspective of the mall]
* [http://www.eggleston-associates.com/Kyova.htm Eggleston Associates: Kyova Mall.]
* [http://www.huntingtonnews.net/local/060511-staff-theatre.html HuntingtonNews.net: Tri-State Getting Second State of the Art Stadium Theatre in Ashland ] .