LAKE WALES, Fla. — In the center of Polk County, a local mall was fading as major retailers shuttered their doors.
But for the last two years, a local man has made it his personal mission to revitalize the Lake Wales Eagle Ridge Mall, with the help of small business owners.
Mall Property Manager, Curtis Gibson, the former Lake Wales City Commissioner says he sees the mall as a central hub for the city of Lake Wales.
"It has always been a mission of mine to really see this mall thrive versus, you know, closing the doors," Gibson said.
Gibson grew up in Lake Wales, spending time at the mall.
"This is definitely personal for me," he explained. "I used to work here when I was younger, much younger. I worked at the movie theater, actually."
In the years that followed his time at the movie theater, the mall's landscape would change significantly. Many big box stores would shutter, leaving Eagle Ridge needing to adapt to survive, looking to small businesses to fill the gap.
"Right now we have over 60 stores that are entrepreneurs, small business tenants," Gibson said. "Then I have about 10 large corporate stores."
Roughly 20 of the small businesses were added under Gibson. That now includes Evette Sejour's Central Florida Urbanwear, which is set to open in May.
"He gave me my chance when no one else would," Sejour said. "With the amount that I have to pay for rent, I'm able to bring my dream to life."
That attractive rent situation includes water and electricity, at roughly $16 per square foot. According to Property Shark, which analyzes real estate data nationwide, the average cost for retail space in Tampa is about $25 per square foot.
Gibson said, "We're probably the most affordable in the state of Florida compared to any mall out there or any, commercial property."
It's an assist to local entrepreneurs, that, in turn, keeps the mall alive.
"The old system is not working. You've got to be able to adapt to the new system," Gibson said.