How a Ghost Mall Became a Data Center Goldmine

In this episode of The Business of Real Estate with Fexingo, Lucas and Luna dive into the surprising conversion of a failed shopping mall in Columbus, Ohio, into a hyperscale data center. They explore the economics behind the deal—how the property was acquired for $12 million, then sold for $180 million after rezoning—and what it means for retail landlords nationwide. Lucas breaks down the infrastructure requirements, including power and connectivity, while Luna questions whether this is a one-off or a template for the future. They also touch on the broader trend of adaptive reuse in commercial real estate, the rise of data center demand driven by AI and cloud computing, and the implications for municipalities losing retail tax revenue. Specific numbers include the 40-megawatt power capacity and the 500,000 square feet of floor space. The hosts debate whether investors should be buying up distressed malls or if the data center boom has already peaked. A concrete, data-rich conversation for anyone watching the intersection of tech and property. #GhostMall #DataCenter #AdaptiveReuse #CommercialRealEstate #ColumbusOhio #RetailApocalypse #Hyperscale #REITs #RealEstateInvesting #Business #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #RealEstatePodcast #AIInfrastructure #CloudComputing #PropertyConversion #Zoning #IndustrialProperty Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo