SCRANTON -- Since the new owner of the Mall at Steamtown, John Basalyga, took over last July, he's looked for unconventional ways to revive the mall that was mostly empty this time last year.
The marketplace that's scheduled to start later this year will fill a big empty space and feature smaller local businesses you don't typically see in a mall.
Other than a fountain, the center of the Mall at Steamtown is stagnant. But the spot that used to feature an Express store during the mall's better days will soon be transformed into the Scranton Public Market.
Artist renderings show a big store broken up into smaller vendors.
Crafters, farmers, and restaurants from the area have already signed on.
Terra Preta restaurant was one of the first.
"The idea for small business restaurants to participate is really exciting and it highlights the innovation of the new owners of the Steamtown Mall," said Trish Dickert Nieves.
Back in December, Terra Preta and dozens of other small businesses filled the mall for a weekend-only market. It was a huge success.
It's something mall officials thought they could expand upon.
"It's going to bring just more diversity than just your regular, 'let's go out for an hour, hour and a half, two hours shopping.' Now it's more, it becomes an event place," said Joe Kenney, Mall at Steamtown.
The mall's new owner hasn't said when the marketplace would open but it shouldn't take as long as other mall projects. The concept is simple; they're constructing it inside of an already existing space.
"I think it would be very interesting to have that fresh produce over here, honestly, it looks like it needs some fresh things around, so, I'm all for it," said Matthew Fernandez of New Jersey.
The Scranton Public market would be open weekends at first but could expand to seven days a week.
"Change is always good. It's always good, and I think it will work out great. I really do," said Katie Hosie of Jermyn.
When the owner of the Mall at Steamtown announced plans for the public market, he hinted that there's another announcement coming soon, one that would fill about 35,000 square feet of the mall.
Mall officials are also working on bringing in a new permanent restaurant.
