Mixed results

Buffalo Wild Wings plans a larger Lima location. Dunkin Donuts is shopping for franchise owners here. Despite some bleak news of late - higher unemployment, sales falling below their year-ago levels and retailers closing their doors - some silver linings remain. One of the brightest seems to be that retailers and restaurant owners still seem to believe there remains money to be made here.

Buffalo Wild Wings plans to move from its American Mall location to recently annexed land on Lima's west side. The new, larger location will mean more jobs. Dunkin Donuts wants to enter the market with as many as five stores in Allen County, so the chain is looking for franchise owners. Apparently, belief still remains in Lima's ability to act as a regional shopping hub.

That's the good news. The bad is that the American Mall, long suffering from a high number of vacancies and again putting off any renovation, is losing one of its two remaining anchors. The Andersons reportedly was talked out of leaving a number of years ago, but one has to wonder what the mall's present state has the Maumee-based operation thinking.

Buffalo Wild Wings is moving from a largely vacant mall that shouldn't be to completely vacant land that likely won't be that way for much longer. It is receiving a tax break to do so and will dramatically increase its space, but one has to consider whether the state of the American Mall didn't help with that decision.

Some progress has been seen outside the Youngstown-based Cafaro Inc.'s property, but outside is the key word. Regal Cinemas opened a multiplex just east of the mall, and Happy Daz/Beer Barrel owner John Heaphy plans a second Beer Barrel there. Other nearby land continues to develop, and future development is planned. Cafaro announced two years ago a planned renovation, but no progress has come. Losing yet another tenant as Allen County continues gaining new retailers and restaurants should convince Cafaro it's time to get serious about the American Mall.