Pennmark Management plans to break the traditional template for interior malls to ensure a prosperous future for Coventry Mall in North Coventry Township. Evan Brandt bagged the story for the Daily Local News.

“I don’t believe interior malls as we knew them are viable anymore,” said CFO Robert Sichelstiel, of Plymouth Meeting–based Pennmark.

Pennmark acquired Coventry Mall in April 2016. Now, the company is working on rotating the retail spaces so that they are outward-facing.

Also, a new restaurant is coming to the former TGI Friday’s space. Big Phil’s Bar and Grill “should be open any day now,” said Sichelstiel.

The south-facing portion of the mall is also getting renovated and will receive a new entrance.

“You’ve seen how we moved JoAnn’s Fabric’s to an out-facing location and we even just signed another new anchor store, Rose’s Department Store,” said Sichelstiel.

The planned renovations apply at present only to the perimeter retailers; for now, the interior businesses will remain unchanged.

The mall’s hallways, however, are also being rethought, with proposals for self-storage or even targeted, interior demolitions, followed by redesign as green space.

Read more about the plans for Coventry Mall in North Coventry Township in the Daily Local News.