Chesapeake Square - Too Late To Save?

I wanted to bring you guys back to the mall that started this channel back in 2019. Chesapeake Square Mall in the Western Branch section of Chesapeake, Virginia. I recently looked at that first video and after cringing at my first video attempt I realized that there are changes in the mall and figured after 4 years, it was worth revisiting. I also want to thank the 555 subscribers to my channel. It means a lot to me that you guys think enough of the content I am trying to put out enough to subscribe and come back for more. I hope I don't disappoint.

To be fair to the stores in the mall, there are a lot that were not opened before 11 because I started to see a few more come to life after I finished recording but the stores where you don't see any inventory, you can tell they are vacant.

When I visited in the fall of 2019, Chesapeake Square Mall had been sold after going into Foreclousre to Kotarides Holdings, headquartered in Virginia Beach for $12.9 Million. Then we had the pandemic, which hit malls the hardest, and we saw nothing happening except for more empty storefronts. With no noticeable changes taking place the only words to describe Chesapeake Square Mall was its dying and won't be around much longer.

The Western side of the mall, which housed Sears and Macy's is completely empty and is roped off preventing walkers from accessing the Western end of the mall. I will have a link to that first video at the end of this one and you can see the change in four years as well as hopefully, much better video taking and editing compared to then.

J C Penney's lease was not renewed by the mall and the reason was upcoming redevelopment. Although, I did find it strange you have a big box retailer wanting to stay and you don't keep them, but I'm not privy to the actual plans. However, the owners are planning on spending $20 million in the next two years redeveloping that side of the mall and from what I have been hearing, they plan on tearing that entire side of the mall down in the process. They say that retail will always be a part of the property but the future calls for more entertainment and dining options.

The owners are also building single family homes, town homes and luxury apartments surrounding the mall. So imagine a re-imagined mall, mega warehouse and a brewery. Called Destination Western Branch, it's the vision of the owner for more than 500 acres surrounding the area that meets Interstate 664. The area with the brewery is to be called the Grove. From what I can tell I believe the City of Chesapeake approved the project after concerns about a local elementary school facing overcrowding. A new replacement school has been built and I believe there was a request that at least 800 home units remain vacant until the completion of that school. With the recent addition of an Amazon Warehouse a mile or so from the mall and an automated Amazon warehouse in Suffolk, VA a couple of miles further, it does appear there will be housing growth opportunities and new blood for the mall complex.

Outside of the mall the owners purchased the old Toys R Us building and demolished it. Making way for retail/dining options. So far I have heard that a mission BBQ will be coming and no other names. They also purchased the land that houses Office Max to have control over that property. Office Max leases the building.

The Golden Corral which closed during the Pandemic is preparing for an auction of all inside contents later in February. I am not aware of that property being purchased by the mall owners.

There is also an empty Pier One imports building that I have no information on for future plans.

Behind the mall a multistory 65+ apartment complex has recently opened. In front of that where the old movie theater was located a VA health services center is supposed to be coming.

Will Chesapeake Square survive in a redeveloped form or are the retail experts correct that it won't survive? Only time will tell. The owners want this to be a draw for people to buy homes in this area and have entertainment and dining options for them. They're putting all of their money on the line. I hope they succeed. Would be nice to see a property beat the odds and continue to operate. We will have to wait and see what the changes bring to Chesapeake Square.