Aroostook Centre Mall Explained

Aroostook Centre Mall
Location:Presque Isle, Maine
Coordinates:46.7°N -68.006°W
Opening Date:November 1, 1993
Developer:Widewaters Group
Owner:Dana Cassidy
Number Of Stores:30+
Number Of Anchors:5 (2 open, 3 vacant)
Floor Area:525000square feet
Floors:1

Aroostook Centre Mall is a shopping mall in Presque Isle, Maine, United States. It opened on November 1, 1993. Shortly after its opening, the U.S. government announced the closing of nearby Loring Air Force Base, the region's largest employer.

The mall contains J. C. Penney and Harbor Freight Tools as anchor stores. Kmart closed in August 2016.[1] [2] Former anchors Sears and Staples closed in early 2015. VIP Parts, Tires and Service moved into the Sears Automotive Center.[3] [4] Staples had opened in 2004, taking part of an anchor space previously occupied by Porteous.[5] That Porteous store, closed in 2003, was the last in the chain.[6]

The 525000square feet building is the third largest enclosed shopping mall in Maine. In June 2001, it was sold for $10 million (less than half of the appraised value) to brothers Eddie & Ralph Sitt of New York City.[7]

In August 2009, the mall updated its energy technology by moving towards more efficient heating, cooling, and ventilation systems.[8]

Sears announced the closing of its Presque Isle store in late 2014.[9] Deb Shops closed in 2014, part of a nationwide liquidation. On January 19, 2015, the Maine Jump, a family entertainment center for children 12 and younger, closed, citing high rent and costs of doing business in the area. In early February 2015 the mall added a coin and hobby supply shop, Central Lakes Coin and Currency. As of 2017, the existing space where Sears used to be was being renovated for the retail store Harbor Freight Tools.[10]

In October 2017, the mall was scheduled to be auctioned off.[11] With no bidder found, Wells Fargo took over the mall for $4 million.[12]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Presque Isle Kmart to Close after 25 Years at Aroostook Mall. Q 96.1.
  2. Web site: Presque Isle Kmart to close.
  3. Web site: VIP expands in Presque Isle, fills mall vacancy.
  4. Web site: Aroostook mall loses two more tenants.
  5. Web site: Staples store coming to Presque Isle mall. June 18, 2004. Bangor Daily News. October 5, 2014.
  6. Web site: Presque Isle Porteous store to close in October. August 28, 2003. Bangor Daily News. October 5, 2014.
  7. News: Aroostook Centre Mall marks 10th year . Rice. Rachel . October 31, 2003 . . A9 . 13 April 2013.
  8. News: Aroostook Centre Mall getting 'green' makeover . Lynds. Jen . August 7, 2009 . Bangor Daily News. 10 February 2013.
  9. Web site: Presque Isle Sears to Close in January : WAGM-TV | Northern Maine and Western New Brunswick's News Leader . 2014-10-15 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20141018003603/http://wagmtv.com/presque-isle-sears-to-close-in-january/ . 2014-10-18 .
  10. Web site: Harbor Freight Tools Coming To The Aroostook Centre Mall!. Q 96.1.
  11. News: Aroostook Centre Mall put on auction block. Brino. Anthony. October 3, 2017. TheCounty.me. 3 October 2017.
  12. News: With no other bidders, bank takes over Aroostook Centre Mall. The County. 2017-11-01. en-US.