Judge OKs plan to close Northland Center

SOUTHFIELD, Mich. – A judge has cleared a plan to close Northland Center in Southfield.

The shopping mall defaulted on a $31 million loan last year and fell into receivership.

A court-appointed receiver asked a judge permission to evict the remaining tenants and close down the mall. During a hearing Wednesday, Oakland County Circuit Judge Wendy Potts granted it.

The mall has been on the downtrend since anchor stores Macy's and Target announced they are leaving.

The mall could be closed in as few as 30 days.

Irene Hardwick-Green of Top of the Line Styles says she's worried about her 11 employees.

"I don't know what to do with all these employees. We have to help the employees. I can make it. I'm a retired federal employee. But I have employees I have to look out for," Hardwick-Green siad.

The mall dates back to the 1950s as one of America's first malls. In the 1970s, it became the first fully-enclosed mall that helped shape the industry.