Artegon Marketplace closes permanently on January 26

Artegon Marketplace closes
Artegon Marketplace, the I-Drive arts “Anti-Mall,” closes for good on January 26.

By Seth Kubersky

Artegon Marketplace, the International Drive “Anti-Mall” filled with everything from fine artwork to rideable zebras, will close for good on January 26.

The Bungalower broke news this morning that Artegon Marketplace closes permanently in two weeks, reporting that Artegon’s managers were informing tenants of the experimental arts mall’s imminent extinction. Artegon, which was built on the bones of the Festival Bay Mall, will shutter a little over two years and two months after it first debuted in late 2014.

Artegon’s social media accounts have been deactivated, but the property’s owner Lightstone Group issued a statement to the Orlando Sentinel saying, “Lightstone will be taking its Artegon Marketplace property in a new direction,” said a statement from Lightstone. “While it was a difficult decision to discontinue operations, we are thankful to our team in Orlando, and to our tenants, for their hard work and dedication over the past several years.”

Anna Young, co-owner of Artegon’s Gods & Monsters collectibles store, told this reporter that she “only had some intuitive red flags, but no heads up from management” prior to today’s announcement. Thankfully, Young reports that she and her partner are “already being slammed with calls and emails from people wanting us to look at getting an LOI [Letter of Intent to lease] in their plazas immediately. We don’t expect we’ll be down for too long by the looks of it. It’s just going to be tough for a few months, while we transition with a new build-out and move.”

The Cinemark movie theater and Bass Pro Outdoor World store are both independently owned, and will remain in operation even after the rest of Artegon Marketplace closes.

The Artegon property, which also includes 70 acres along I-Drive, has been up for sale through CBRE Orlando realty since last October, with a theme park company rumored to be interested in the site.

Here are a few of our favorite videos from our many visits to Artegon Marketplace:

Attractions - The Show - SnoSpot at Fun Spot; Artegon Marketplace; latest news - Dec. 4, 2014
Attractions - The Show - Artegon enhancements; Spooky Empire; latest news - Nov. 5, 2015
Attractions - The Show - Gods & Monsters; Anime convention; latest news - June 25, 2015
Attractions - The Show - Sky Zone Orlando; Bird Call interview; latest news - Jan. 14, 2016
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3 Comments

  1. Going yrly during pre xmas holidays,m wife+i always enjoyed stopping by
    the ARTEGON MALL(FESTIVAL BAY).WE WILL MISS IT
    If its one thing they don’t need its another park/hotel to congest the area.