Simon Says Amazon Centers Might Go Into Empty Mall, Retail Spaces

Mall operator Simon Property Group Inc. has been in talks with Amazon.com Inc. to turn some empty store space formerly occupied by anchor tenants such as J.C. Penney Co. Inc. and Sears Holdings Corp. into Amazon fulfillment centers, Dow Jones reported, citing people familiar with the matter. In Michigan, Simon Property Group controls Briarwood Mall in Ann Arbor, and Birch Run Premium Outlets in Birch Run. The company is also partnering with Brookfield Property Partners LP to jointly bid for J.C. Penney, which has multiple Michigan properties remaining, and which filed for bankruptcy in May. The discussions between Simon and Amazon started before the coronavirus pandemic, with the two companies exploring the idea of buying out occupied space from the retailers in some cases. Read more at The Detroit News.