WYOMISSING, Pa.- The developer who’s in the process of buying and making big changes to the Berkshire Mall in Wyomissing says his plans include leveling much of the existing building and starting fresh.
“Everybody knows that the Berkshire Mall is ripe for redevelopment,” says Peter Abrams, with Abrams Realty & Development. “Everybody’s been waiting to see what would happen and to see what might emerge.”
Abrams says he plans to buy the mall and create a brand-new retail space. The plans have created a lot of buzz.
“The economic benefit of this project is going to be astronomical versus what the economics benefits are that are coming out of it today,” says Abrams. “The increase in the tax revenues is going to be massive to the school district and to the township and to the county.”
The developer says it’s too soon to announce what retailers will be coming to the shopping hub but says he’s already been in serious negotiations with national retailers.
Wyomissing Mayor Fred Levering says it’s a good opportunity for the area. “It sounds like there are going to be things that are not here already. So, they won’t be just playing checkers and moving businesses around but really doing something unique and different.”
The mall still has a number of current tenants and is still open for shoppers.
“Most tenants are on short term leases and the few that have term, I’m going to plan on incorporating them into the new project,” says Abrams.
He tells 69 News they expect to close on the property by March of next year and says it will likely be around early 2027 that they start the job.
“Let’s say this shopping center could completely brand new and mobbed in the middle of ’28,” says Abrams.
As for the storm water system, the developer says they plan to completely rebuild it for the entire shopping center bringing it up to current standards.