He says he joined the mall team when the complex was undergoing massive losses in revenue, and operating at a 40% vacancy. Zarbo compared the situation to treating a triage patient.

"There were a lot of short-, mid-, and long-term problems," he says. "We just had to come in and start treating the wounds, and work to get to where it can walk on its own."

After consolidations, renovations and massive window dressing, the mall has risen in occupancy to 92%, Zarbo says.

Sales are about $250 per sf for most of the mall, not including jewelry stores, Zarbo says. He declined to average out lease prices.

One renovation plan was rebuilding the Livonia Theater in the mall, vacant for six years. The theater opened again in July. Also, he said he chose to bring in mostly local stores, bucking a national trend.

"The trend has been to go with mostly nationally-recognized chains," Zarbo says. "We thought if we were going to go with a long-term plan, our best leasing strategy would be to choose local stores."

He said the aging mall can't compete with malls such as 12 Oaks Mall in nearby Novi or the Somerset Collection in Troy. "Our goal is that if shoppers want high-profile fashion stores, they can shop at those malls, but we'll bring them in for other needs," Zarbo says.