With the U.S. pandemic hitting it's one-year mark, the biggest U.S. mall operator is expressing optimism that business may be returning toward a normal point.

Simon Property Group CEO David Simon said certain markets, such as Florida, are showing signs of recovery with retailers reopening and filling empty mall space but told CNBC it will "take some time" for malls to return to levels pre-COVID-19.

"The [retailers] that want to grow their business are excited," Simon said this week in a call with analysts, according to CNBC. "The healthy retailers that believe in their business — believe in their plans — are making deals."

His company is talking with several top retailers, including Kohl's, about potential new locations.

The mall company's total revenue has dipped 24%, to $1.13 billion, from $1.49 billion in 2020.

Simon's mall occupancy rate in late 2020 was 91.3%, compared to 95.1% at the end of 2019, according to the report. Last March Simon Group temporarily closed all its malls in response to the impact of COVID-19.

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