occupancy was never strong: the mall lacked strong anchor tenants, the adapted industrial facade along illinois street lacked clear entrances and views inside, and the half-built-out surroundings dissuaded foot traffic. "the property never lived up to expectations," as a local business newspaper wrote, even after it was renamed river east plaza in 1997 and marketed to artists and art galleries. in 2013, it was purchased out of bankruptcy court by a developer who subsequently converted the building into the lofts at river east apartments and closed the interior mall.