LAKEWOOD, Colo. — Workers inside Colorado Mills mall in Lakewood continue to toil away after a massive May hailstorm tore holes through the building's roof, shuttering the mall for months with extensive water damage.
Store owners and managers say they had to clean out their stores while roof repairs continued. Employees were either put out of work or transferred as repairs, which could go on for some months, continue.
Colorado Mills mall officials confirmed Friday suspicions that the popular shopping center will not reopen until the upcoming holiday shopping season.
"Thankfully our mall shoppers and our tenants' employees did not sustain any injuries caused by the hail storm," a release read. "We have already commenced remediation and restoration efforts and we are working with our insurers and others to ensure that Colorado Mills reopens as soon as possible."
There's some hope for major retailers, however. Anchor tenants with their individual entrances will open ahead of the mall's debut. The mall's Super Target and movie theater remain open.
Resources for former Colorado Mills employees:
- Colorado Department of Labor and Employment can connect workers with services and assist with temporary unemployment claims.
- Local workforce centers
- Connecting Colorado job database
The Mayor of Lakewood, Adam Paul, is also working with local economic development officials to reach employees. Mayor Paul said he is thinking about organizing a job fair as a way of connecting employees with local companies. He's already heard from several businesses who are interested in hiring workers from the mall.
MORE | See photos from the May 8 hailstorm that caused millions in damage across Colorado.