STRONGSVILLE, Ohio — A small business is facing permanent closure after SouthPark Mall allegedly failed to properly communicate and notify customers about new changes at the mall.
Jaime King’s has been operating inside SouthPark Mall for almost 10 years.
“This is my baby. This was my life,” King said.
Shop N Play is considered a “casual tenant” at the mall, meaning it does not have exclusivity over the children’s play centre.
King said he chose the temporary option simply because it was the cheaper option.
King said she learned the heartbreaking news in April.
“I’ve worked there for 10 years and have been informed by customers, not South Park, that they are replacing it with another play centre,” Mr King said.
According to Shop N Play’s lease with SouthPark Mall, the contract expires on Aug. 31, 2026.
But further down in the lease it says the mall can terminate the agreement at any time, with immediate effect. But King said that’s not a problem.
“[The South Park Mall] “They didn’t give me the first right of refusal to say, ‘No … or, yes, I want to be a permanent tenant, or, no, give it to them first,'” King said. “I wanted to be part of the process, so other small businesses can see what they’re doing and hopefully get an edge on the competition. Use this as a lesson learned.”
King said she has reached out to mall management and lawyers to find out next steps and whether she has options to stay, but hasn’t heard back “for months.”
News 5 reached out to Spinoso Real Estate Group, the owner of SouthPark Mall, through a contact form on the company’s website, once on Tuesday night and twice on Wednesday afternoon.
We also reached out to Spinoso Real Estate Group’s director of marketing and brand strategy on Wednesday but did not receive a response.
News 5 then called South Park Mall’s management office and within the hour received a call back from the general manager, who offered to make a statement sometime on Thursday, though he couldn’t meet Wednesday night’s deadline.
“I think I’ve lost all hope. I honestly don’t think there’s any hope left. I just realized it’s over,” King said.
King said he tried searching area malls for a new location but was unsuccessful.
“At this point, I’m kind of dissolving the business. I can’t put it into words. I have no words.” [I’m] “I am sad, hurt, angry and shocked. I have seen these children from when they were in the womb to when I taught them their ABCs. It has been such a journey. I can’t put it into words,” King said with tears in her eyes.
Ms King said she had been told the new play centre was due to open by February 2025 and there was “no need to worry”.
However, King said plans have changed and he has been asked to vacate the mall by July 19th.
“I started crying, I couldn’t believe it. [it was] “It’s probably a bad dream,” said Maya Khalek, a manager at Shop ‘n Play for six years. “I hope the mall management will have some patience and understand how devastated this family is. The kids are devastated. I’ve had parents literally come up to me in tears.”
Kalek said Shop ‘n’ Play is his only source of income and he has yet to find a new job.
“I enjoy going to work. It’s not a job anymore. It’s part of my lifestyle. I love it. I don’t even call it a job, I call it my life,” Khalek said.
King said he was in contact with his lawyers about his options.
Once South Park Mall sends News 5 a statement it will be posted here.
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