On behalf of all of us at Tarabicos Grosso, we are greatly saddened to learn of the passing of our friend and longtime client, James Whitcome of General Growth Properties. Jim was known to many of you, and we are honored to take a moment to remember his legacy as a leader in the retail development industry who was instrumental in helping to shape New Castle County as we know it today.
Through his work with GGP, Jim orchestrated and oversaw the complete redevelopment of the Christiana Mall, which initially included the addition of Nordstrom, Target, Barnes & Noble, the Cheesecake Factory, and many other retail stores and restaurants, followed by a second phase of redevelopment, which included the addition of Cabela’s, Cinemark Theater, and significant improvements to the surrounding roadway system.
Jim was instrumental in reviving and transforming the once deteriorating and troubled shopping mall into a premier regional shopping destination and one of the top producing malls in the United States, drawing over 20 million visitors annually and continuing to serve as a point of pride for New Castle County and the State of Delaware.
It was our honor and pleasure to work with Jim over the course of many years to bring this exceptional project to fruition, and we will miss him. We extend our heartfelt prayers and sympathies to his family, friends, and fellow colleagues during this difficult time.
Jim’s obituary can be viewed here.
With deepest regards and condolences,
Larry J. Tarabicos