Plainfield - Malls across Indiana are dealing with the tough economy, but the popular destination called Metropolis is working its way through other challenges.
Overflowing trash cans, litter filled parking lots and soaking wet ceilings are just some of the issues tenants are dealing with.
"Being a children's shop it caused a lot of problems with water coming through the roof which made it very hard to try to take care of the customer," said Gina Kilgore, Kids Kloset owner.
Business owners in the Plainfield Commons Shopping Center say they were stuck with problems last spring when the property went into bankruptcy.
"For about six months you could definitely tell the property was not well kept as far as the parking lot and just getting people in to make repairs," said Kilgore.
"When your paycheck bounces a few times or you stop getting a paycheck most people go out and find the jobs where they actually get paid," said Mark Zuckerberg, attorney.
Premier Properties used to own this piece of real estate, and the Metropolis Mall across the street. Now Premier is bankrupt, leaving about $600,000 in unpaid bills. Those services include landscapers, snow shovelers, mall security and maintenance companies who were left hanging, including Plainfield's town water and sewer utilities which are owed $40,000.
That's a significant chunk of change but the Plainfield town manager says that's no reason for these businesses that have paid their bills to suffer.
"What we don't want to do in a shaky economy is shut off the water and empty the place out of the businesses that are there," said Rich Carlucci, Plainfield town manager.
'A lot more shopping. A lot more places to eat, it just added some pizzazz to Plainfield that drew more people into town," said Alpha Sheckler, Mooresville.
Residents say part of its appeal lay in the crowds it drew during the holidays.
"They had lots of lights, Santa was in center court, it was very festive," said Kilgore.
But this year the mall was working with a slim budget, trying to pay off its debts under new management.
"It wasn't as pretty as it has been in previous years," said Shawna Tully, Plainfield. "They didn't have the big Christmas bubble with Santa in it. It was just in a store that has been closed."
They say the holiday shopping crowd slimmed down with it.
"We came the same time last year on Christmas Eve and last year we had an hour wait but this year we just walked right in and got our pictures taken," said Tully.
The town manager says the stores at the mall are doing well, and their profits are paying the rent. But the question still remains if that income is enough to help pay back all those unpaid bills.
