The Marktplatz Mall was built in the 1980s with the dream of strengthening the New Ulm retail community’s presence downtown, of tying together with Minnesota Street businesses and providing vitality to the business district.

Over the years the dream faded as tenants pulled out and ownership changed hands. The mall was a shadow of what it was meant to be even before ownership was split up between New Ulm Retail Development and George’s Ballroom owner Randy Danielson.

The rancorous relationship between the two owners did nothing to improve the situation at the mall. In fact, NURD’s building of a wall between its portion and Danielson’s portion was a physical symptom of their bitter contention.

Now the mall is under one manager, after the sale of the NURD portion to New Ulm Property, an entity connected to Danielson.

Now it is up to Danielson to resurrect the Mall, to find some tenants and bring some life back into it. It will be a difficult challenge. Retail business has developed away from downtown over the years, with the construction of Walmart and Menards stores and the expansion of Runnings into the former K-Mart building on the west end of town.

Danielson said at the sale Wednesday he has some prospective tenants. We hope he does, and that he can get them beyond the prospect stage. Whether they are retail or professional offices or service businesses of some kind, the mall could certainly use some activity.