Melissa Miller is business editor at The Southeast Missourian. A graduate of the University of Missouri Journalism School, she's worked as a reporter, photographer, editor and as the executive director of two not-for-profit organizations. After living in Michigan and then Indiana, she moved back to her hometown of Jackson, Mo. In addition to writing daily stories for The Southeast Missourian, Melissa coordinates editorial content each month for Business Today. Business Today is a monthly publication for southeast Missouri's business community. Monthly themes include health care, agriculture, women in business, technology and more. Business Today is direct mailed to business owner and managers throughout southeast Missouri and southern Illinois. Follow her updates on local business developments at www.twitter.com/semissourianbiz or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MelissaMillerSoutheastMissourian

WSJ reports new owners for West Park Mall

Posted Monday, February 28, 2011, at 11:01 AM

UPDATE: 6:30 p.m. Monday

Centro Properties Group Monday requested the Australian Stock Exchange Limited grant a trading halt of its securities effective immediately, pending an announcement of a potential transaction. It's requested trading halt remain in place until Centro making that announcement or the open of market on Wednesday, according to a copy of its letter to the stock exchange posted on its website Monday evening.

ORIGINAL POST:

Centro Properties Group, which owns West Park Mall and 588 shopping centers in the United States, has reportedly agreed to sell its properties to Blackstone Group LP for $9.4 billion, the Wall Street Journal reported today.

A spokeswoman for Centro told me the company has made no such announcement, but suggested checking its website, http://www.centro.com.au/, later this evening.

The WSJ article cites unnamed sources "familiar with the matter."

Centro, which purchased the mall here in 2006, is based in Melbourne, Australia. The company is $8 million in debt on its U.S. portfolio, according to the WSJ article.

I'll continue to follow this development and keep you posted on how it may impact mall operations here in Cape Girardeau.

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cites

-- Posted by commenter on Mon, Feb 28, 2011, at 12:24 PM
commenter, spellcheck won't catch things where one should know the difference.

-- Posted by stardog on Mon, Feb 28, 2011, at 12:37 PM
So, the Missourian's business reporter gets her local business news from another newspaper. Great work, people.

-- Posted by Marion_Morrison on Mon, Feb 28, 2011, at 12:41 PM
Everybody's a critic...the spelling, the source? Get a life people! I personally appreciate Melissa's blog that updates us on what's happening in the business community. Thank you Melissa!

-- Posted by myhumbleopinion on Mon, Feb 28, 2011, at 12:59 PM
What was she supposed to do Marion? Ignore something of local interest just because the WSJ had already reported it? If she had done that I am sure that critical folks would have slammed her for ignoring local news that even the WSJ had reported on. Give her a break!

-- Posted by jcwill on Mon, Feb 28, 2011, at 1:01 PM
The mall sucks there is no where to eat anymore every thing has left from mcdonalds to mcallisters and el durango and such we need restaurants and more shopping to choose from and something needs to go where steve and barry's use to be and also where pasta house use to be! I rather go to St. louis cause at least their malls are better! West Park Mall Sucks

-- Posted by capeguy30 on Mon, Feb 28, 2011, at 3:22 PM
The nerve of some people. Melissa is supposed to ignore a reliable source reporting on an issue?

-- Posted by SouthernHusker on Mon, Feb 28, 2011, at 4:06 PM
Good job Melissa. The photo is great, too, by the way.

-- Posted by bobby62914 on Mon, Feb 28, 2011, at 4:57 PM
UH! There is a reason why there is no place to eat in the mall. NO ONE EATS THERE!!!!!! If there was the businesses would be there. Why would anyone eat at the mall when there are literaly at least 15-20 other places to eat within one block of the mall!!!!!!!!!!!!

-- Posted by johnboy25 on Mon, Feb 28, 2011, at 10:12 PM
I agree bobby62914. You might get a nice Southern gentleman to court you after seeing that picture of you.

-- Posted by SouthernHusker on Tue, Mar 1, 2011, at 7:42 AM

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