ASHTABULA TOWNSHIP —
New Orient Express, the Chinese restaurant at Ashtabula Towne Square, will close Oct. 6, employee Eric Wu said.
This news comes as the mall struggles to fill the void left by Fashion Bug’s imminent departure, Bruno Brothers Pizza last month, and Sears, which closed its doors in June. All of the closings put about 45 people out of work.
Mall manager David Torok was out of the office Friday.
Sears Automotive did move to the Kmart store, and Wu said New Orient is looking to relocate in the area.
But New Orient’s exodus is more bad news for Ashtabula Towne Square as it tries to lure in shoppers with a lot of empty store space.
Sears was one of the original stores when the $40 million, 750,000-square-foot Ashtabula Mall opened in October 1992.
The first and only enclosed mall in Ashtabula County, it was celebrated as a sign of the area’s economic rebirth.
Now that New Orient Express has announced its departure after Sears, Payless ShoeSource, Dillard’s, Steve & Barry’s, Finish Line, King’s Jewelry, Claire’s, the Yum Yum Tree, Spencer Gifts and Wendy’s Old Fashioned Hamburgers pulled out, the community’s leaders are again worried about the future.
Joe Pete Sr., who serves as vice chairman of the Ashtabula Township trustees, said he hopes New Orient Express relocates in the township.
“It’s been there ever since the mall opened,” he said.
Local News
Orient Express plans to leave the mall Oct. 6
- Local News
-
-
Fifth man in Ashtabula murder case pleads guilty to kidnapping
Now it’s five out of six.
-
Walnut Beach restrooms and concessions will be ready in time for summer
They are working on the restrooms at the Walnut Beach concession stand in preparation for the summer season, but the city still is looking for a concessionaire, City Manager Jim Timonere said.
-
Catholic community saddened by loss of the Rev. Charles Poore
The Catholic community is mourning the loss the Rev. Charles Poore, who lost his battle with cancer Thursday.
-
A bit of the farm may come to Ashtabula's Main Avenue
Rich red tomatoes, bright green peppers and farm fresh eggs — this is what the Downtown Ashtabula Farmers’ Market envisions for Main Avenue.
-
Blessing of the Fleet is tonight at Ashtabula Harbor Public Dock
The tradition of blessing area mariners began more than 60 years ago in the Ashtabula Harbor.
-
Conneaut’s school board honors employees, retirees
Several Conneaut teachers and a handful of retirees received accolades at Wednesday night’s Conneaut Board of Education meeting.
-
Saybrook Township firefighters receive federal grant for equipment
Saybrook Township Fire Department was awarded $41,510 in federal funding to purchase new equipment.
-
Pairings inks lease agreement, gets new sponsor
It’s been an eventful week fo the Pairings Wine and Culinary Experience, director Jennifer Brown said, as the wine and food center became the pending leasee of the former Geneva Elementary property and gained another major sponsor.
-
Plymouth Township man dies in backhoe accident
A Garrison Road man, known as an avid outdoorsman, died in a backhoe accident while working in his yard Wednesday night, authorities said.
-
Track/field facility could see start soon in Conneaut
Nearly a generation of Conneaut scholastic track athletes have never known a home meet, thanks to a course that fell short of state requirements. That could change next year.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Fifth man in Ashtabula murder case pleads guilty to kidnapping
