Artegon Marketplace closing 1/26

[WhatJaneSays]

There'd been lots of rumors about this for the past few months. Even after many repeated assurances from the Artegon management that they planed to operate as normal in a meeting earlier this week they just told all the tenants the place is closing on January 26th.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/consumer/os-artegon-marketplace-closing-20170112-story.html

 

[cheezbat]

Sad news. Love Gods and Monsters, Fuddruckers, Cinemark, and the mini golf.

 

[disney4life2008]

Im not shocked. I went to Fuddruckers a few months ago which was nice but the place itself should be elsewhere. As others have mentioned it would be nice in winter park or Altamonte but along i drive was not good. Sad to see it leave.

 

[WhatJaneSays]

I'll miss Gods & Monsters. I know they're working on a temp relocation at the moment while they hash out a long-term location.

I think the owners of the Artegon property only really gave it halfhearted attempt because they realized that the actual land is worth more than they could reliably make. The next step is to see if they they sell outright and if Bass Pro and Cinemark are willing to sell too.

 

[cheezbat]

I was there on 1/26. It was so sad to see the majority of places closed. Still, good times reminicising of all the memories I've made there the past fifteen years.

 

[pilka214]

It's been a struggling property every since it's inception as Festival Bay years ago... it had HUGE potential, and indoor skatepark, massive stores and for a while Ron Jon planned on building a surf park... but something never clicked. My opinion was mismanagement and too high of rent, but i have no idea really, it was owned by GGP malls which sucked. Artegon was a neat departure and i was hoping a successful business model, but with the expansion of I drive and all the expanding businesses that property is $$$$$... I've heard rumors of a potential theme park investor, which could be neat.

 

[lazyboy97o]

My opinion was mismanagement and too high of rent

That is my inclination as well. With so much shopping in the immediate and larger area, it just seemed odd that this one spot would be the saturation point.

 

[RustySpork]

It's been a struggling property every since it's inception as Festival Bay years ago... it had HUGE potential, and indoor skatepark, massive stores and for a while Ron Jon planned on building a surf park... but something never clicked. My opinion was mismanagement and too high of rent, but i have no idea really, it was owned by GGP malls which sucked. Artegon was a neat departure and i was hoping a successful business model, but with the expansion of I drive and all the expanding businesses that property is $$$$$... I've heard rumors of a potential theme park investor, which could be neat.

The skate park was pretty great actually. It's unfortunate for all of the small businesses impacted by this, hopefully they can all move to better locations and their losses will be small.

 

[OliveMcFly]

This used to be Festival Bay Mall! I used to go the Universal Outlet years ago. I can't believe it survived this long. It's a pretty mall but it was terribly empty.