The Port Charlotte Town Center opened in 1989 when developer Eddie DeBartolo and retail shopping trends were still at their peak. DeBartolo’s San Francisco 49ers won a Super Bowl that same year.

Now, retail trends have changed because of Amazon and online shopping. Washington Prime, the current owner of the indoor shopping mall, filed for bankruptcy in June.

The mall off Murdock Circle at 1441 Tamiami Trail is up for auction on Feb. 28. The winning bidder will assume control of the bankruptcy note and will be free to redevelop the real estate under terms set by the bankruptcy court, said Chuck Taylor, senior vice president of client services for Centennial, which manages the mall. Taylor declined to speculate on the bids and value of the mall but interested bidders have reached out to him about transforming the town center into a hybrid development of apartments, offices, retail and restaurants.

“Based on inquiries from interested parties, that could certainly be an avenue for the property,” Taylor wrote in an email. “Charlotte County has assisted in that process by implementing a new zoning code that applies to the asset, which provides for mixed uses. They also have been encouraging prospects by displaying their willingness to assist where they can.”

The mixed-use zoning ordinance passed in November 2020.

The mall will remain open with business as usual before and likely immediately after the auction, Taylor said. The adjacent Beall’s, Dillard’s and the vacant Macy’s spaces are owned by others and are not part of the auction, he said.

Dave Gammon, the economic development director for Charlotte County, said the county is well short of much-needed apartment complexes. “That would be the best use for it,” Gammon said. “It really could make for a spectacular mixed-use development. It’s a lot more valuable than an industrial use, for instance.

“People are looking for a different retail experience. The developers are repositioning malls into different things to attract more people. It’s exciting to see what it could be here. There’s a lot of moving parts to this one.”