Neill Bernstein hosted a news conference Monday in the vacant theaters at the sprawling, empty mall. The developer, who has much of the property under contract, identified two likely tenants for a business enterprise zone: MedAdherence, a business that helps keep patients compliant with their medications; and C.E.S., an Israeli company that has developed energy-management systems for residential and commercial buildings.
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View full sizeNeill Bernstein has big plans for remaking Randall Park Mall.NORTH RANDALL, Ohio -- Bustle briefly returned Monday to Randall Park Mall, where developer Neill Bernstein talked about filling the cavernous shopping center with business incubation, manufacturing and distribution -- plus a 400-meter track stretching from one end of the mall to the other.
Public officials and community members filed into a vacant movie theater to see a short video and presentation by Bernstein, a South African businessman who put the mall under contract in February. He is scheduled to acquire the mall, the empty Dillard's department store and the former Magic Johnson theaters in December.
Though he does not own it yet, Bernstein has re-christened the property, tossing the Randall Park Mall name in favor of Devland City. His company, the Devland Group, has developed hotels and other projects in South Africa and Europe.
During a news conference, Bernstein laid out some details of his development plan, including obtaining Foreign Trade Zone status for the mall; using the former theaters as events space; recruiting an international shipping tenant; and remaking Dillard's for restoration of classic cars and motorbikes, in a deal that could involve Ohio Technical College.
"This project doesn't scare me in any way because this is something worth working for," Bernstein said.
He shared few details about potential tenants but said Devland has been talking to three international shipping and logistics operations about taking space at the mall and is in advanced negotiations with one of them.
Bernstein also explained his plans for a business enterprise zone, housing 100 small to mid-size businesses that would share support services. One likely tenant, he said, is a medical technology company that could create 100 jobs.
In an interview after the news conference, Bernstein identified that company as MedAdherence, a business that works with doctors to keep patients on track with their medications. He said Devland also is putting together a deal with an Israeli company called Computerized Electricity Systems, which has developed energy-management systems for residential and commercial buildings. The companies would form joint ventures with Devland to open locations in the former mall.
