Please note: This story is from October 2010
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News that the Prairie Hills Mall had been sold was circulating around Dickinson for a few weeks and Thursday the mall manager delivered the official memo to mall tenants.
Great Plains Clinic Medical Enterprises purchased the mall Wednesday, according to the memo.
"GPCME LLC is excited about the future of Prairie Hills Mall and how the mall will impact the community and surrounding areas," according to the memo.
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Mall tenants didn't have much information, said Deb Lervik, owner and manager of Foxes Den at the north end of the mall.
"Our hope is that we have a good working relationship with the new owner," Lervik said.
The previous owner, Developers Diversified Realty, was based out of Ohio. Some tenants are happy to see a local company take over management.
A company in Ohio trying to run a mall 1,000 miles away doesn't work as well as a local company who will better understand the needs of the tenants and the community, said Mike Wilkinson, owner of Blue Hawk Audio/Video near the center of the mall.
"Overall I think it's a good thing," Wilkinson said.
Mall manager Peggy O'Brien would not comment beyond what was stated in the memo.
"It is a great piece of property," said Gaylon Baker, Stark County Development Corp. executive vice president. "I hope the new investors have a good marketing and business plan that will be a great success for the owners and our community."
The mall, located at 1681 Third Ave. W, is about 32 years old. It includes three anchor stores along with a variety of shops and a few eateries.
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A call to Great Plains went unreturned Thursday.
Press reporters Katherine Grandstrand, Ashley Martin and Lisa Miller contributed to this story.
