Nov. 13--General Growth Properties, parent company of Peachtree Mall, is struggling on the retail front and grappling with heavy debt, prompting the company to say in a federal filing that it may be forced to seek bankruptcy protection.

"We continue working with our advisers to develop a comprehensive, strategic plan to generate capital from a variety of sources including, but not limited to, core and non-core asset sales, joint venture interests, a corporate level capital infusion, and/or strategic business combinations," David Keating, spokesman for Chicago-based General Growth, wrote in an e-mail Wednesday.

"Regardless of our situation, our properties and company will continue to operate, remain vibrant and look forward to a prosperous holiday season," he added.

General Growth, the nation's second largest mall owner and management company, purchased Peachtree Mall in 2003 from the California Public Employees' Retirement System, paying nearly $88 million.

The 33-year-old Columbus mall sprawls more than 65 acres between Manchester Expressway and Columbus Metropolitan Airport. The 815,000-square-foot center is the only indoor shopping mall in the city.

Peachtree has 110 stores and more than 30 smaller kiosks. Its major anchors are Dillard's, JCPenney and Macy's.

Mall general manager Chris McCoy said the center is 98 percent occupied, with plans to open two stores in time for this year's crucial holiday shopping season. One is a clothing store, he said, while the other will occupy the former Friedman's Jewelers space and offer customers similar products.McCoy said the mall is anticipating a strong season despite national expectations that this will be a tough one for retailers. The National Retail Federation has forecast that sales will rise 2.2 percent this year to $470.4 billion. But that's far off the 10-year annual growth average of 4.4 percent.

"I expect to have a great holiday season," McCoy said. "The mall is 98-percent occupied. We're hopefully generating some energy in the community. I know that a lot of the retailers will have some great offers and discounts this holiday season. We're definitely getting prepared."

One space at Peachtree Mall that is not yet filled, however, is the former Parisian department store space. The 86,700-square-foot store closed in February 2006 and was purchased by Dillard's Inc., which has not done anything with the excess space that fronts Manchester Expressway.

McCoy declined to discuss the large retail hole in the mall or his parent company's financial situation.