Published on June 16, 2026 8:05 am
Last Updated on June 16, 2026 2:23 pm
The Square Effingham has given an update on the Village Square Mall.
Their dreams to develop rejuvenation and bring jobs, new business, and tourism to the south side of Effingham have come to an end. This news comes as a result of the almost 17 months it took for the 5th District Court of Appeals to rule in the ownership matter.
During the time it took to make a ruling, the mall has further deteriorated, the costs to renovate have increased, and the momentum with potential tenants has waned. The result is that the Square Effingham will no longer be moving forward with their plans and have instead transferred their ownership to the City of Effingham.
They are grateful for the large amount of community support for their vision. They are glad they didn’t walk away from the fight for ownership. If they had given up, the mall would have reverted back to the previous owner, losing the opportunity for the mall to be locally owned.
They view this venture overall as a win for Effingham. They are disappointed and frustrated at the outcome, but state that their vision was real and support was substantial. Unfortunately, it was just not meant to be for Team Square.
We will continue to follow this story, as there are amazing businesses still located in the Village Square Mall and they await what the future will hold for them in the coming months, as the City of Effingham maintains ownership of the Village Square Mall.
