MASON CITY – Local eatery Pies & More is closing their doors, but not right away, an employee there confirmed today.
The restaurant, located in Willowbrook Mall and in operation for years, will stay open until September 1st of this year.
The employee we spoke with said they were closing because “Mercy Hospital had bought half the mall.”
This rumor is not true, as Mercy Hospital marketing department spokesperson Jodi Ball confirmed today that Mercy is only possibly interested in leasing “some space” at the mall and nothing more.
Willowbrook Mall manager Kent Hall returned a phone call this afternoon and said he is not happy about the rumors going around about Willowbrook. He stated that “At this time we are investigating our options with the longevity of the property.”
More on this developing story to come.
awesome pancakes-find a new place you will do well.
Did anybody see the story on CELL U BYTE closing suddenly next to Willowbrook?
File that under sudden & surprising.
The staff there were very helpful when I went for assistance. The other branch was not open because of a staff meeting at that time. I went to CELL U BYTE as alternative US CELLULAR dealer to get a new phone.
So Sorry that another small private business has closed. The trend in Mason City and in this country as a whole is alarming to say the least.
Maybe Mercy would like to snag that building since it is by willowbrook/cheslea creek?
How about leaving pies n more and just occupying the cellubyte building instead if Mercy is looking for property to lease?
Why is Mercy so secretive about the things they do? Think of the several times they bought the houses surrounding the hospital, when they bought where the dermatology clinic is, when they bought the old Hy-Vee building, whenever they let a doctor go……….always a secret until it leaks out! They are sure vocal when they make the top ranking hospital or buy an expensive piece of equipment though! Why aren’t they open about everything they do?????
I was disappointed and surprised to hear the news yesterday about Pies&More.
I went to the mall, personally, to speak with folks I know who work there to find out what the facts were. Some folks still seemed unclear as to their business situations and had NOT heard anything regarding their own businesses closing or being asked to leave etc….
I like to go to Hunan with the girls and to the Christian book and Gift store. I also like to buy items from the health food store there. There are businesses that have a faithful following in the mall.
Women in the surrounding area go to Saxony clothiers to purchase clothing. There are also chemo and radiation patients who go to Saxony for wigs and consults on fittings etc..
I was just recently hired to work Fulltime at Saxony of Mason City. I have NOT as of this moment, been notified that I will not have a place to work or a job to go to at Saxony.
Perhaps,if Willowbrook did close or get bought out in the near future, some of the stores in Willowbrook would relocate in Mason City if they could find a suitable building at a reasonable cost and in a good location?
As stated in other comments, we do not need to lose any more jobs in our community.
It would be a shame to lose more “mom and pop” family/locally owned small businesses to larger businesses as well.
I guess time will tell the truth in regard to Willowbrook ,Mercy and what lies ahead.
I am praying that more businesses do not end up closing from Willowbrook unless that is their choice or business vision to begin with:)
Has anyone been in Willowbrook Mall lately? Mercy could take half of Willowbrook and not displace a single business. Half of the business space is completely empty… and there’s a reason for this. The monthly rent is outrageous, marketing of the mall amounts to be a small ad in the shopper each month, and more and more businesses were moving out even prior to this. Willowbrook may have been hopping in the ’70’s but over the last 20 years, it’s out of date and without any respectable anchors to bring people in.
Until I hear something more definitive from Mercy and Les Nelson, I am going to file this away with the “Jimmy John’s is not coming to Mason City” story.
So, if this isn’t true about Mercy, why is everyone saying they bought Willowbrook and some of the businesses there are getting their eviction notices? That is a fact! Do you really think Mercy is going to be truthful until they are ready????? They want to take over the town and they don’t care what the small business guy has to do. Why do they need more offices? Perhaps they need to concentrate on patient care instead!!!!!! They are non profit so we don’t get tax money off of them anyway.
Maybe their leases won’t be renewed when they are up, but they haven’t been given eviction notices, according to the Globe today.
the globe. according to the globe, the city is in great shape.
johnson building?
This article goes to show that people would prefer to believe gossipers instead of the mall representative who has been trying to quell the rumors and talk to the occupants. I don’t know why Mercy needs space there when the Johnson Building sits unused. Does anyone know if there is anything in that place except a little storage on the east end? I groan every time I see that empty parking lot knowing that building is unused and no longer on the property tax roles.
I’m sure they are moving to the enormously vibrant new downtown Mason City and pick up a few thousand of the tourists not able to get a room and eat at the Park Inn.
Pies & More would be a fantastic addition to our downtown! And I guess the fact that no one can get a room or a reservation to eat at the Park Inn is a GOOD sign!! That means they are BUSY!
totaly agree with jeff below.
With businesses dropping like fleas,this is why this city needs to work with businesses like SuziQ,Hootenanny Incoporated even more…not be thorns in their sides.
You have to look at who is currently running the city and the great choices that they have made in the past. (NOT) They could care less about the little guys and the ones that should truely stay in this town.
Pies & More is a wonderful establishment that has become a great Saturday tradition for my kids to have breakfast with grandma I hope they can open up in another location!
The old Bagel Depot would be a good location.
I REALLY hope they find another location. I will be very disappointed its gone for good.
It’s sad that they received eviction notice to be out by September 1st. Other stores may be closing in this mall as well. Pies n More is such a great little place to eat. It’s one of those hole in the wall diners.
It’s Jodi not Jody.
Seriously?
This is sad news. I enjoyed this spot greatly!