Fida Ghanam watched crews tear down the mall from Saladelia Cafe. Her restaurant has been across from South Square Mall for 15 years.
"Finally! To see some action, we're excited," she said.
The mall has been almost like a ghost town with most of its stores closed since last year.
"Us and the businesses around us were worried about it closing and staying like a piece of real estate that's empty next to us," Ghanam said.
Word of Target and other big-name retailers opening at the stie could bring life to empty nearby strip malls. Some new businesses are already planned. Between pedicures and massages, customers at nearby Beauty Quest talk shop and shopping with the new stores on tap for the old site .
"Everyone I know is very excited. I haven't heard one negative thing," owner Jenny Kapur said.
Developers said once the mall is torn down, it will take them about a year and a half to redevelop the site.
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