Nine former all-star athletes who grew up in and near Lorain County during the 1980s have joined forces to support the revitalization of the Mt. Vernon Shopping Plaza (MVP) in Columbus. The group, operating as SOWCL Enterprise and Investments, LLC, has invested in the redevelopment project led by Chicago TREND. MVP is currently raising capital to become the first community co-owned shopping center in Ohio.
Lyneir Richardson, CEO of Chicago TREND, said the participation of the local athletes reflects the spirit of community investment. “It’s an honor that these local legends with a huge connection to Lorain County have embraced the opportunity to invest in MVP and do good in the ‘hood,” Richardson said. “The project aligns with their winning spirit and their goal of supporting impactful community projects that create generational wealth.”
Mt. Vernon Plaza opened in 1978 with a ribbon-cutting by President Jimmy Carter. It was originally supported by federal urban renewal funds aimed at strengthening the neighborhood. In the decades since, the shopping center has suffered significant decline as the surrounding community faced economic challenges and population loss.
Chicago TREND purchased the property this year and plans to upgrade the plaza, attract new tenants, and promote shared ownership among investors. The company’s approach seeks to build community cohesion and foster inclusive economic growth by allowing individuals to jointly own commercial property.
SOWCL represents the Lorain neighborhoods where its members grew up: Subway Park, Oakwood Park, Willow Park, Central Park, and Lincoln Park. The group includes nine Lorain County athletes, all of whom remain close friends and share deep roots in local sports programs:
- Brandon Bromley – Attended Southview High School and Elyria West High School, graduated from Admiral King High School in 1987. Member of Admiral King’s 1985–86 basketball team inducted into the Lorain County Sports Hall of Fame.
- Frank Owens – Graduated from Lorain Catholic High School in 1985, where he earned All-Ohio honors in baseball, basketball, and track. Named to the Lorain County Sports Hall of Fame.
- Milton Anderson – Graduated from Admiral King High School in 1986, where he was a team captain and MVP in basketball. Later captained the Oberlin College basketball team and earned All-Conference honors.
- Gary Patton – Graduated from Admiral King High School in 1984, where he lettered in baseball, basketball, and football. Played football at Eastern Michigan University and was drafted by the New York Jets in 1988.
- Darrell Wilson – Graduated from Southview High School in 1986, where he earned First Team All-Conference and All-County honors in basketball and track.
- Paul Wilson – Graduated from Lorain Catholic High School in 1985, where he became the school’s all-time leading scorer in basketball and earned First Team All-State honors.
- Ronnie Williams – Graduated from Admiral King High School in 1984, where he played basketball and baseball and was a starter on the 1984 basketball team ranked #1 in Ohio.
- Rodney Palmer – Graduated from Columbus South High School in 1983 and later played college basketball at Capital University. A longtime participant in Lorain County summer tournaments with the Lorain MAC Club team.
- Fred Cummings – Graduated from Western Reserve Academy in 1985, where he captained the football and basketball teams before playing football at Oberlin College.
“Neighborhood revitalization is consistent with SOWCL’s values and mission – and the MVP opportunity is right on target for us,” said Milton Anderson. “Our company slogan is ‘It’s game time,’ and that aligns with our backgrounds as Lorain athletes as well as our readiness to support big ideas that will deliver big benefits for Ohio communities.”
Chicago TREND’s investment model focuses on revitalizing urban commercial properties while creating opportunities for local investors to participate in ownership. The company’s involvement in the Mt. Vernon Plaza project connects the legacy of Lorain County’s athletes with a broader effort to build sustainable, community-driven economic growth across Ohio.