ORANGE PARK – The parent company that owns the Orange Park Mall filed for bankruptcy protection last weekend, but mall officials said it won’t have any effect on business at the county’s biggest shopping center.

“You won’t feel a thing,” said mall general manager Randy Bowman. “We are still focusing on doing cool things here in Clay County. We’ll let corporate deal with their part. But for us, it will be business as usual.”

Washington Prime Group Inc., which owns 102 shopping malls and plazas around the country, filed for Chapter 11 protection after it reported losses of $55.4 million in the first quarter. Chapter 11 allows companies to reorganize their debts while it keeps its business operating while seeking relief.

Washington Prime released the following statement: “The COVID-19 pandemic has created significant challenges for many companies, including Washington Prime Group, making a Chapter 11 filing necessary to reduce the Company’s outstanding indebtedness. Throughout the restructuring process, the Company remains committed to serving as a preeminent operator of retail town centers and will continue to serve its guests.

Importantly, the Company will continue to prioritize the health and safety of our guests, retailers, employees and communities.”

The parent company said it needs help following a year of shutdowns and slowdowns from the COVID-19 pandemic. While many of the mall tenants were eligible to receive Paycheck Protection Program payouts to keep their doors open, malls weren’t eligible for the government money.

Bowman said rents were recalculated during the pandemic to allow tenants to keep their shops open.

“We worried about our tenants first,” he said. “Now we will worry about ourselves.”

The company secured $100 million in new debtor-in-possession financing from creditors led by SVPGlobal to “ensure that all business operations continue in the ordinary course without interruption.” If approved, Chapter 11 would oversee an agreement between SVP Global and Washington Prime to restructure the debt. SVPGlobal holds approximately 73% of the company’s secured debt and nearly 67% of its unsecured obligations.

Washington Prime, which is headquartered in Columbus, Ohio filed in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas.

“The company’s financial restructuring will enable WPG to right-size its balance sheet and position the company for success going forward,” CEO Lou Conforti said in a release. “During the financial restructuring, we will continue to work toward maximizing the value of our assets and our operating infrastructure. The company expects operations to continue in the ordinary course for the benefit of our guests, tenants, vendors, stakeholders and colleagues.”

Washington Prime also owns the Westland Park Plaza at 6000 Lake Gray Blvd. in Argyle Forest. Westland Park’s primary tenants are the Burlington Coat Factory, Bealls Outlet, LA Fitness, Plato’s Closet, Once Upon a Child and Guitar Center.

The Orange Park Mall, located at the corners of Blanding Boulevard and Wells Road, opened in 1975. Its largest retailer is JC Penney, but the mall also features anchor stores like Dillard’s, Belk, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Old Navy, Books-A-Million and the 24-screen AMC theater. The mall also has a bustling 400-seat food court

While many other malls have been allowed to deteriorate and abandoned or have been torn down, the Orange Park Mall has remained a vibrant hub to Clay County’s commerce. Of the 145 retail spaces at the 952,725-square-foot mall, only one space is unoccupied, Bowman said.

A new amphitheater soon will be opened in a grassy area at the edge of the property to bring a variety of entertainment acts, movies and festivals to the area, including Rock the Box on Oct. 1 featuring Candlebox, Saliva and Brett Myers. Tickets, available at rocktheboxop.com, are $29, and a care package for St. Michael’s Soldiers organization will be filled for each ticket sold.

Bowman said most of its outdated common area furniture will be replaced this week.

“We are moving forward,” he said.