By Cindy Schroeder
The Cincinnati Enquirer
After 15 years in the nearly vacant Crestview Hills Mall, the owner of Sweet Tooth Candies has moved his store to Florence.
Owner Robert Schneider said uncertainty over the timetable for the redevelopment of the Crestview Hills Mall prompted the move.
Sweet Tooth Candies, known for more than 70 varieties of chocolates, opened in the former Cinnabon space off the Florence Mall food court on Nov. 11.
Schneider will continue to operate his 35-year-old Sweet Tooth store in Newport. That store also sells homemade ice cream.
"The business was fine," Schneider said. "I just didn't know from month to month when they were going to start (rebuilding the mall)."
Crestview Hills City Council took the first step Thursday toward issuing $90 million in bonds to rebuild the mall as an upscale outdoor "lifestyle center'' similar to Rookwood Commons in Norwood.
Developers said they will create a "Main Street" feel through sidewalks, trees, street lighting and awnings.
Before the Kenton County Planning Commission reviews a site plan in February, Mayor Paul Meier suggested the city host an open house at the city building so that residents can learn project details.
Jeff Anderson, the same developer who did Rookwood, has proposed a complete makeover for Crestview Hills Mall.
The project would include a new $25 million Dillard's department store, up to 60 smaller retailers and trendy restaurants.
All of the stores would be one-story except for the new 200,000-square-foot Dillard's, which would be built on the south end of the mall.
The existing Dillard's would stay open when the new store was built, and most of the mall would be razed for the reconstruction.
If all goes according to plan, the new center would be ready by the 2005 Christmas season.
"Ever since they started talking about (the redevelopment), I thought, 'What would I do if they do close?'" Schneider said.
"I've got employees who've been working with me forever, and I had to think about them."
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E-mail cschroeder@enquirer.com
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