Eastgate Mall is back in court instead of back in business. A new lawsuit filed this week accuses the owner of the Union Township shopping center of letting the property crumble while pushing ahead with big redevelopment promises. The complaint claims the owner intentionally allowed common areas and building systems to deteriorate and refused to complete millions of dollars in needed repairs, a situation tenants say is scaring off customers and clouding the mall’s future.
According to the Cincinnati Business Courier, the suit alleges Hull Property Group declined to make more than $4.5 million in repairs and accuses the company of “intentional neglect.” The Courier reports that the claims are laid out in a complaint filed in Ohio courts, which lists specific repair projects the plaintiff says were never done.
The legal fight is unfolding against the backdrop of a long, very public tug-of-war over Eastgate’s future. As the arguments have dragged on, so have vacancy rates. WCPO reports that the non-anchor vacancy at the mall has climbed to roughly 59 percent, and Hull has been locked in a separate lawsuit with Kroger since late 2023 over demolition plans and site design for the former Sears property.
Legal fallout and next steps
County court calendars show the Kroger case has already produced multi-day hearings focused on preliminary injunctions, and the new complaint is poised to add another layer of pressure that could either push the parties toward settlement talks or keep the litigation going. Docket listings from the Clermont County Court of Common Pleas show upcoming hearing dates tied to the Eastgate matters, which are posted by the Clermont County Court of Common Pleas.
Tenants and community reaction
Inside the mall, small business owners say they are feeling the fallout in real time as more storefronts go dark. Jack Cary, who owns Furniture Connection, told WCPO that “People think the mall’s closed,” a perception that is not exactly helping weekend sales. The owner of Time Warp Cards & Comics added that “there’s been no real upkeep here.” Those on-the-ground complaints have fueled public frustration and sharpened calls from township trustees and nearby residents for a concrete redevelopment schedule instead of more courtroom drama.
Where redevelopment stands
Hull Property Group bought Eastgate Mall in 2023 and has pitched a mixed-use overhaul of the site, arguing that the aging property needs to be reimagined to become a regional draw again. In a company post, Hull said it intended to partner with community leaders on the project. Local planning documents for the broader Eastgate district sketch out a long-term master plan for redevelopment that puts the mall at the center of a larger mixed-use vision. Hull’s announcement is available from Hull Property Group, and the district blueprint is detailed by Union Township…