St. Louis Outlet Mall, known formerly as St. Louis Mills, debuted in 2003 when Mills Corp. of Arlington, Va., opened the center with several anchor stores and 200 specialty stores. Cabela’s, a chain of outdoor gear outfitters, came along in 2007.

City Manager Matt Zimmerman said Hazelwood officials look forward to working with Namdar to revive the mall.

Some store owners said they had yet to hear from their new landlord.

Regardless, Marilyn Diggs said she was hopeful the new owner will bring back customers, fill dozens of store vacancies and make the mall appear less ghostly. She opened Lanabri’s Bistro two years ago but at lunch Friday her restaurant with 21 flavors of wings was nearly empty.

“Business has been terrible,” she said.

Banana Republic, Gap, Old Navy and other retailers left the mall last year. Cabela’s and Bed Bath & Beyond remain big draws. Most stores had few, if any, customers during the middle of day Friday.

Many retailers said they hope the new owner will avert what to some seems like an inevitable mall closure. Some retailers said they noticed reductions in mall staffers’ hours and security after the ownership change.