Power outages have been a persistent problem at Towne West Mall in west Wichita since September. The latest outage, caused by Kohan Retail Investment’s failure to pay the electricity bill on time, has left vendors in the dark once again.
Jennifer Garrison, owner of Passageways LTD, expressed frustration with the lack of communication and reliability from mall management. According to her, the outages have caused confusion among customers and disrupted production for vendors like Ken Smith of Steve’s Jams and Jellies.
Smith reported significant losses in product due to the outages as well as challenges in storing inventory safely without power. Despite the setbacks, both vendors are exploring alternative locations to continue their businesses amidst the uncertainty at Towne West Mall.
While some vendors are considering moving out of the mall, others like Smith are hesitant due to the convenience and affordability of their current spaces. The management has not provided a timeline for when the power will be restored, leaving vendors in limbo.
Anchor stores like JCP, Dick’s, and Dillard’s Clearance Center have maintained power through separate accounts with Evergy. However, this has not prevented further issues with power outages at Towne West Mall which is causing concern and inconvenience for businesses and customers alike.