As Neuhoff Media previously reported, the Texas-based owners of the Village Mall recently refused to cooperate on a proposed city funded market feasibility study, and then gave an eviction notice to the very popular family and fun place JumpOff, when their lease does not expire until May.
Vermilion Advantage CEO Mike Marron says the lack of willingness on the part of the Village Mall’s owners to communicate with anyone locally is getting more and more disturbing.
AUDIO: All of the contacts we had; we’ve tried to reach out to with the mall ownership. The phone number that I had has been disconnected. We’ve sent e-mails, and they bounce back. We’re trying to come up with a plan to try to help figure this thing out. It’s just pretty frustrating right now.
And for JumpOff owner Alvarez Dixon, perhaps the most frustrating thing is that while the mall overall is struggling, his place is not. Yet, just last week, he was told, “You need to get out.”
AUDIO: More and more people coming out every weekend; both for open jump, walk-ins, as well as parties. We’ve been turning people away at capacity, really seeing and feeling positive about what we’ve built in this community over the last three years. So when this happened, last week, we were really stunned. I mean we were blown away.
And Dickson very much wants JumpOff to relocate in Danville. So their last day in business; Friday, March 15th from 4 to 7 PM; will be a “finale and official kick off of a fundraising campaign” to help them acquire a place to do so. It will be a GoFundMe fundraiser, accessible at GoFundMe.com/support-theJumpOff. It’s already mentioned on their Facebook page, and will soon be on their website. Pizza and slushies will be on the house on the 15th.
The next day, Saturday March 16th, is when another store leaving the mall, Claire’s, will have their final day of business. Neuhoff Media stopped by the Village Mall early Thursday afternoon intending to speak with Claire’s. However, upon taking an establishment photo inside the mall intended for use on vermilioncountyfirst.com, Neuhoff Media was asked by a member of security to leave the premises. Phone calls have been placed to both the Village Mall store, and Claire’s corporate headquarters.
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City of Danville’s Relationship with Village Mall Owners Worsens
