Huntington Mall's property manager to retire in June

• By FRED PACE The Herald-Dispatch
• May 27, 2018 Updated May 28, 2018

BARBOURSVILLE - After 24 years, Joseph Johnston is retiring as the Huntington Mall's property manager at the end of June.

"I really don't like the word retire," Johnston said. "It's true that I am retiring from this position, but I am not one to just sit around at home. I plan to stay active in the community, and I want to be a contributor to something positive."

Johnston helped guide Huntington Mall through its most exciting period of growth.

"I oversaw the addition of 330,000 square feet of new retail space and the renovation of nearly every square inch of the mall complex," Johnston said. "It's been fun to watch everything grow and develop. I'm appreciative of the Cafaro family for giving me the opportunity to be part of this incredible progression."

Anthony Cafaro Jr., co-president of Huntington Mall's parent company, thanked Johnston for his years of faithful service.

"Joe has done a wonderful job," he said. "We wish him well in whatever new interests he pursues."

Career

Prior to his arrival at Huntington Mall, Johnston spent 15 years in sales and management at local radio stations.

In 1992, he left his job as general manager of WRVC to go to work in the medical industry as a marketing professional. The 64-year-old Johnston began his career at the mall on May 16, 1994.

"They wanted to find someone within the community to be the new property manager," he said. "They wanted someone that wanted to live in the area and wanted to stay in the area. I knew the director of operations during my days in the radio business. We got together, and then I went to an extensive interview and within 45 minutes after that I was offered the job."

In the ensuing years, he has been responsible for a myriad of details that are part of the day-to-day operation of West Virginia's largest shopping complex.

"No two days are the same," he said. "This mall is like a city. It swells up in the day. We get ready for it in the morning and overnight, and then it swells up during the day and evening."

Johnston says part of his job is to make sure the mall tenants have a place where people want to return.

"We have strived to make it clean and progressive looking and a place that gives those coming here a great experience so they will want to continue coming back over and over again," he said. "We spend a great deal of time and work making the mall a safe and enjoyable experience."

Johnston said none of the success could be possible without the mall's hard-working and dedicated staff.

"Over 24 years it would be impossible to name everyone, but the staff throughout my career here has been simply outstanding," he said. "They deserve so much credit for its success."

Through all the phases of his career, Johnston has been actively involved in the work of numerous civic boards and organizations.

"I am excited for the next phase of life and the opportunities it may bring," he said.

Childhood

Johnston grew up in Huntington.

"My mother was a nurse in Huntington, and my father owned a barber shop," he said. "Visiting downtown Huntington was one of our favorite things to do. We loved the parades and soapbox derby races on 8th Street."

Johnston graduated from St. Joseph Catholic High School in 1971.

"I played sports," he said. "I wasn't great at any of them, but I truly enjoyed playing, especially basketball."

After high school, Johnston attended Marshall University and majored in journalism advertising.

"I graduated four-and-a-half years later and worked at Sears the entire time I was in college," he said.

After college Johnston visited Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, in the summer of 1975.

"I had a desire to get out on my own and position myself amongst people I didn't know," he said. "I had a strong desire to experience that and thought it was important."

Johnston got a job in the hotel resort business in Hilton Head Island on March 1, 1976.

"I loved the place and thought I would be there for a very long time," he said.

In 1977, Johnston's father passed away, so he came back home to Huntington.

"I was needed back here at home to help my mother," he said. "I had some remorse that I wasn't home for the final year of my dad's life and, I think that brought me to the decision that I needed to come back to Huntington."

In 1979, Johnston said he met the girl of his dreams.

"I saw her at a wedding. My aunts were trying to get me to dance with these other girls there, but I told them if I was going to dance with anyone it's is going to be with the girl standing over there."

The girl was Rita Ryan. He and Rita have now been married for 36 years. They have three children and four grandchildren.

"My son Corey and his wife Katrina live in Philadelphia and have two children, Maya and Beck, while my daughter Mallory and her husband Tim live in Huntington and also have two children, Dylan and Billie," he said. "My other son Zachary lives in Huntington."

Mall's future

The 1.5-million-square-foot Huntington Mall has been serving the people of West Virginia, Ohio and Kentucky since 1981. It is located off U.S. 60 and Interstate 64 at exit 20 in Barboursville.

"The mall is in a perfect location," Johnston said. "Its proximity to I-64, eastern Kentucky, southern Ohio and southern West Virginia make it a perfect location to attract so many to the mall."

Johnston says the Huntington Mall is the catalyst for all of the new development and growth in the Barboursville area.

"Barboursville has become the region's premier shopping destination," he said. "Everyone with the Village of Barboursville, from the mayors to the police force to the fire department, as well as the emergency service personnel to the business community and the local residents have all been so supportive of this mall. I have always appreciated everything they have done and continue to do."

While many malls struggle to survive, Johnston said the Huntington Mall has continued its growth.

"The number of visitors to the mall each year continues to increase, and our occupancy rate hovers around 98 to 99 percent," he said. "Our occupancy rates are much higher than the national average."

The mall is owned and managed in association with the Cafaro family of companies, based in Niles, Ohio, one of the nation's largest privately held shopping center developers. The Cafaro organization has developed more than 30 million square feet of commercial real estate in 14 states.

"The Cafaro family are hard workers, and I am thankful to have been a part of their progress here for the past 24 years," Johnston said. "They don't rest on their laurels, and I see this mall continuing to be very successful for many, many years to come."

For more information on mall stores and events, call 304-733-0492 or visit online at www.huntingtonmall.com.

To learn more about the Cafaro organization, go to www.cafarocompany.com.

Follow reporter Fred Pace at Facebook.com/FredPaceHD and via Twitter at @FredPaceHD.

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Huntington Mall's property manager to retire in June

• By FRED PACE The Herald-Dispatch
• May 27, 2018 Updated May 28, 2018

 Lori Wolfe/The Herald-Dispatch Huntington Mall Property Manager Joseph Johnston is retiring at the end of June.

Sholten Singer/The Herald-Dispatch Joe Johnston, from left, Anthony Cafaro Jr., and Jennifer Correa cut the ribbon for the grand re-opening of the Mall during a celebration and gala at the Huntington Mall in this Dec. 4, 2011, file photo.

BARBOURSVILLE - After 24 years, Joseph Johnston is retiring as the Huntington Mall's property manager at the end of June.

"I really don't like the word retire," Johnston said. "It's true that I am retiring from this position, but I am not one to just sit around at home. I plan to stay active in the community, and I want to be a contributor to something positive."

Johnston helped guide Huntington Mall through its most exciting period of growth.

"I oversaw the addition of 330,000 square feet of new retail space and the renovation of nearly every square inch of the mall complex," Johnston said. "It's been fun to watch everything grow and develop. I'm appreciative of the Cafaro family for giving me the opportunity to be part of this incredible progression."

Anthony Cafaro Jr., co-president of Huntington Mall's parent company, thanked Johnston for his years of faithful service.

"Joe has done a wonderful job," he said. "We wish him well in whatever new interests he pursues."

Career

Prior to his arrival at Huntington Mall, Johnston spent 15 years in sales and management at local radio stations.

In 1992, he left his job as general manager of WRVC to go to work in the medical industry as a marketing professional. The 64-year-old Johnston began his career at the mall on May 16, 1994.

"They wanted to find someone within the community to be the new property manager," he said. "They wanted someone that wanted to live in the area and wanted to stay in the area. I knew the director of operations during my days in the radio business. We got together, and then I went to an extensive interview and within 45 minutes after that I was offered the job."

In the ensuing years, he has been responsible for a myriad of details that are part of the day-to-day operation of West Virginia's largest shopping complex.

"No two days are the same," he said. "This mall is like a city. It swells up in the day. We get ready for it in the morning and overnight, and then it swells up during the day and evening."

Johnston says part of his job is to make sure the mall tenants have a place where people want to return.

"We have strived to make it clean and progressive looking and a place that gives those coming here a great experience so they will want to continue coming back over and over again," he said. "We spend a great deal of time and work making the mall a safe and enjoyable experience."

Johnston said none of the success could be possible without the mall's hard-working and dedicated staff.

"Over 24 years it would be impossible to name everyone, but the staff throughout my career here has been simply outstanding," he said. "They deserve so much credit for its success."

Through all the phases of his career, Johnston has been actively involved in the work of numerous civic boards and organizations.

"I am excited for the next phase of life and the opportunities it may bring," he said.

Childhood

Johnston grew up in Huntington.

"My mother was a nurse in Huntington, and my father owned a barber shop," he said. "Visiting downtown Huntington was one of our favorite things to do. We loved the parades and soapbox derby races on 8th Street."

Johnston graduated from St. Joseph Catholic High School in 1971.

"I played sports," he said. "I wasn't great at any of them, but I truly enjoyed playing, especially basketball."

After high school, Johnston attended Marshall University and majored in journalism advertising.

"I graduated four-and-a-half years later and worked at Sears the entire time I was in college," he said.

After college Johnston visited Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, in the summer of 1975.

"I had a desire to get out on my own and position myself amongst people I didn't know," he said. "I had a strong desire to experience that and thought it was important."

Johnston got a job in the hotel resort business in Hilton Head Island on March 1, 1976.

"I loved the place and thought I would be there for a very long time," he said.

In 1977, Johnston's father passed away, so he came back home to Huntington.

"I was needed back here at home to help my mother," he said. "I had some remorse that I wasn't home for the final year of my dad's life and, I think that brought me to the decision that I needed to come back to Huntington."

In 1979, Johnston said he met the girl of his dreams.

"I saw her at a wedding. My aunts were trying to get me to dance with these other girls there, but I told them if I was going to dance with anyone it's is going to be with the girl standing over there."

The girl was Rita Ryan. He and Rita have now been married for 36 years. They have three children and four grandchildren.

"My son Corey and his wife Katrina live in Philadelphia and have two children, Maya and Beck, while my daughter Mallory and her husband Tim live in Huntington and also have two children, Dylan and Billie," he said. "My other son Zachary lives in Huntington."

Mall's future

The 1.5-million-square-foot Huntington Mall has been serving the people of West Virginia, Ohio and Kentucky since 1981. It is located off U.S. 60 and Interstate 64 at exit 20 in Barboursville.

"The mall is in a perfect location," Johnston said. "Its proximity to I-64, eastern Kentucky, southern Ohio and southern West Virginia make it a perfect location to attract so many to the mall."

Johnston says the Huntington Mall is the catalyst for all of the new development and growth in the Barboursville area.

"Barboursville has become the region's premier shopping destination," he said. "Everyone with the Village of Barboursville, from the mayors to the police force to the fire department, as well as the emergency service personnel to the business community and the local residents have all been so supportive of this mall. I have always appreciated everything they have done and continue to do."

While many malls struggle to survive, Johnston said the Huntington Mall has continued its growth.

"The number of visitors to the mall each year continues to increase, and our occupancy rate hovers around 98 to 99 percent," he said. "Our occupancy rates are much higher than the national average."

The mall is owned and managed in association with the Cafaro family of companies, based in Niles, Ohio, one of the nation's largest privately held shopping center developers. The Cafaro organization has developed more than 30 million square feet of commercial real estate in 14 states.

"The Cafaro family are hard workers, and I am thankful to have been a part of their progress here for the past 24 years," Johnston said. "They don't rest on their laurels, and I see this mall continuing to be very successful for many, many years to come."

For more information on mall stores and events, call 304-733-0492 or visit online at www.huntingtonmall.com.

To learn more about the Cafaro organization, go to www.cafarocompany.com.

Follow reporter Fred Pace at Facebook.com/FredPaceHD and via Twitter at @FredPaceHD.