NORFOLK, Va. – More information is coming out to business owners in and near Military Circle Mall. They just learned a few days ago that the mall will be torn down at the beginning of next year and businesses need to be out by the end of December.
Monday morning, many of the business owners met with Divaris Property Management Corporation and the Norfolk Economic Development Authority. The meeting was scheduled to address some of the questions business owners have about the plan and any available assistance.
On Thursday, Jared Chalk, the director of Norfolk Economic Development said they will be holding a series of meetings. When asked about what kind of assistance the businesses might get, he responded, “At this point, we haven’t identified what that looks like. “There will be assistance. Again, it’s going to be on a case-by-case basis depending on the type of user, the rent needs.”
News 3 was not allowed to attend the meeting, according to city officials. But a crew talked with Zen Alam, owner of Bronx Jewelers, located inside the mall. He said, "The property management people were there. They were taking questions from us, and they didn’t answer any questions." He added, "They said we’re going to take these to City Council and they’ll answer you individually through email. So what we decided, all the merchants, that we’re going to go to the City Council on the 23rd of this month and bring all the questions to them, and I’m hoping for the best."
The decision to demolish Military Circle Mall for a new development directly affects close to 100 businesses that will need to close by December 31.
Alam said he and other merchants would like to have an extension so they can be fully open during the holiday season and not be packing up their store.
