Towne West closed after power disconnected, businesses looking to move
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — Towne West Square closed on Wednesday, March 27, after the power was disconnected overnight.
“Disconnect notices have been delivered for Towne West stores. Here we go again,” said Passageways, Ltd on Facebook Tuesday. “Kohan Investment out of New York own the mall and are the ones not paying the electric bills.”
Passageways, Ltd helps previously unhoused military veterans.
Passageways, Ltd Co-Founder Jennifer Garrison posted a video to Facebook on Wednesday afternoon. She says as of 9 a.m., the mall was dark.
“So here’s the doors that our agencies go into to come help homeless veterans shop and get items they need for their homes. Everything’s locked, no notes on the doors,” Garrison can be heard saying as she tries to open the doors to the mall. “We haven’t had any direct communication from Towne West or Michael Cohan at all. And there’s our outreach center not being utilized for our veterans like it should be.”
Garrison did a Facebook live Tuesday evening to discuss all the “hubbub” about Towne West Square.
Industrial explosion in Finney County hospitalizes two
In the live, she stated how she communicates with several other Towne West stores in a thread to learn the latest.
“The only way we find out that lights are gonna be off is somebody says, ‘Hey, we just got a disconnect notice delivered to our store, and they’re putting them on all the doors,'” said Garrison. “So, it’s not like we get an official call from the mall saying, ‘Hey, heads up.’ We’re kind of looking after each other in the mall.”
Garrison also said a couple of stores are going to be leaving while others are staying where they are for now.
“Everybody’s kind of keeping an eye on of other locations for people,” said Garrison. “We have been looking at places for a very long time, and we’re crossing our fingers that we may have an opportunity that was presented to us.”
Garrison said she will keep everyone in the loop. Like “Passageways, Ltd” on Facebook.
“Please join us in praying for a viable solution, not just for us but for the remaining small businesses trying to make a living at Towne West Square,” said Passageway, Ltd in a Facebook post.
Man charged in northeast Wichita fatal shooting
Evergy has released a statement to KSN regarding the power at Towne West Square being disconnected:
“Kohan Retail Investment Group has again fallen delinquent on the electricity bill for Towne West Mall, and Evergy disconnected service at the mall,” said Evergy. “The larger stores at the mall have separate accounts that remain in good standing and are not subject to disconnection.”
KSN has reached out to Kohan Retail Investment Group. We have not heard back at this time.
It is unknown at this time when the closed portion of the mall will reopen.
According to NBC Chicago, Kohan Retail Investment Group is closing a mall outside of Chicago on Friday.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSN-TV.
