STEUBENVILLE, Ohio — Business owners at Fort Steuben Mall are facing an uncertain future after much of the shopping center was condemned by the City of Steubenville, forcing tenants to close and begin preparing to leave.
City officials posted condemnation notices Tuesday after determining the portion of the mall controlled by its owner was unsafe for occupancy. Businesses affected by the order have been instructed to cease operations immediately and have 30 days to remove their property.
The condemnation does not apply to Walmart, JCPenney or 7 Ranges Entertainment, which operate in separate sections of the property with their own entrances and structural systems.
For longtime tenants, the closure marks the end of decades spent serving the community.
Merle Norman Cosmetics, which has operated inside the mall for approximately 40 years, is among the businesses affected. Owner Gina Pierro said the closure is heartbreaking for both employees and longtime customers, many of whom have supported the business for generations.
Several businesses had already begun moving merchandise Tuesday. A moving truck was parked outside Aaron’s Rent to Own, while other stores, including Sally Beauty and Cato Fashions, remained closed.
The Ville Restaurant and Bar remained open Tuesday, although people familiar with the situation said the restaurant plans to close its mall location later this week.
The condemnation has also impacted local broadcasting. River Network radio stations 106.3 The River (WCDK) and River Talk (WEIR 1430 AM, 100.9 FM and 94.9 FM), which relocated their studios from Weirton to Fort Steuben Mall in 2020, are now searching for a new location following the closure. The stations have long served the Ohio Valley with classic rock, local news, sports coverage and community programming.
City officials had previously given the mall’s owner, Mississippi-based Total Finance, 60 days to address numerous building and fire code violations identified during inspections. That deadline, which included a 30-day extension requested by the owner, expired Saturday without the required repairs being completed.
A follow-up inspection found additional concerns, including continued structural deterioration, widening gaps above emergency corridors and visible cracking in storefront glass, prompting the city to issue the condemnation order.
City Manager Mike Johnson said officials believe the mall’s owner locked the building’s main entrances after the condemnation notices were posted. He said tenants must still be given access to retrieve their inventory and equipment before the 30-day deadline expires.
Johnson also said he has been told the property’s owner believes a buyer may be interested in purchasing the mall. However, he noted that under state law, the owner retains the right to repair the building before other redevelopment options could be considered.
While the future of the enclosed mall remains uncertain, businesses operating outside the condemned portion—including Walmart, JCPenney and 7 Ranges Entertainment—remain open to customers.
Community members who know of available commercial space that may be suitable for any of the displaced businesses, including radio stations, are encouraged to reach out to those businesses directly or contact River News.
