What’s next for Oviedo Mall? Possibilities include apartments, hotel, niche businesses

OVIEDO, Fla. — The Oviedo Mall is trying to reinvent itself.

Gone are the traditional anchor stores, including Macy’s and Sears. Coming in are a variety of nice mom-and-pop businesses with even bigger plans in the works, said Kevin Hipes, the mall’s general manager.

Hipes said the future of the mall is not in big retail. He said the mall has to come up with new ideas to lure people away from the comfort of their home computers.

READ: Could the Oviedo Mall be saved by seniors? Residents hope so

In this case, that includes trying to get people to make the mall their home.

There are plans in the works to add around 250 luxury apartments and even more 55-plus active adult apartments to the mall, as well as a first-class 120-room hotel.

All of that is pending Oviedo City Council approval.

“The mall must survive. I don’t know if we should approve or not approve of these apartments at this time. We need a lot more information, but we do need to look at creative solutions that will help it diversify from retail,” said Mayor Megan Sladek.

The City Council is scheduled to hold a first reading of the developers’ plans on Jan. 6.

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