Reviewed by: Pat Byington
Vacant Bessemer mall to get new life
Reading time: 3 minutes
The Mall at Westlake, closed since 2009, is set for a rebirth.
Range Light Investment Partners bought the property for $3,000,000, according to the Birmingham Business Journal. The company plans to spend several times that amount to transform it into the Marvel City Business Park.
What to expect
Range Light Investment Partners plan to redevelop the mall into an industrial flex complex named Marvel City Business Park.
Renovations will include:
- Removal of all exterior and interior retail components
- Upgraded lighting and electrical systems
- Façade enhancements
- Optional docks and drive-in doors available for prospective tenants
- Parking
- Outdoor storage options
- Yard space
Pat Foran, founder of Range Light Investment Partners, stated that their goal is to attract light industrial and manufacturing businesses that might want smaller spaces that what is currently available in the area, according to a release in Rebusiness Online.
“There are many more tenants looking for 30,000 to 50,000 square feet than 300,000 to 500,000 square feet in the Birmingham area, and there are virtually no options for them. Marvel City Business Park will cater to those smaller bay-sized tenants that don’t need 36-foot-high ceilings and want more affordable rent than what the newer big box developments demand.”
Pat Foran, founder of Range Light Investment Partners
The company hopes to welcome its first tenants by the end of the year.
Community Impact
Foran said he liked the Bessemer location because of its “capable workforce and a business-friendly tax environment.”
The city will hope the move can turn a lot that is currently overgrown weeds and condemned buildings into economic growth.
“Revitalizing this former retail space into a light industrial or business park isn’t just about redevelopment—it’s about reimagining a property to make it more useful, more productive, and more aligned with today’s economic needs. We’re transforming yesterday’s mall into tomorrow’s economic engine—unlocking opportunity, creating jobs, and bringing more opportunities for economic prosperity.”
Steve Ammons, President & CEO of the Birmingham Business Alliance
Located near the intersection of Interstates 20 and 459, there is hope the Marvel City Business Park can increase traffic to Bessemer and expand its impact beyond the former mall’s borders.
The Mall at Westlake
The Mall at Westlake is a 323,000-square-foot former shopping and dining center in Bessemer. Built in 1969, it takes its name from the lake they filled to allow its construction.
The mall experienced its heyday in the 1970s but suffered significant challenges by the end of the 1980s. By the end of the decade, all three of its original anchor stores had closed.
Bruno’s Supermarkets attempted to revive the mall in the mid 90s by placing a flagship store there in 1994. When Bruno’s filed for bankruptcy in 2009, the mall closed for good.
Excited for the Marvel City Business Park? Let us know by tagging @bhamnow on social media.
