Hibbett Sports isn’t the only new business coming to Meadowbrook Mall. The next business which plans on opening shop is of the local variety.

 

Joe Bell - director of corporate communications for the Cafaro Company out of Ohio, that owns and manages the mall property - has announced that HD Truck Center will be locating at Bridgeport’s retail hub.

 

“They’re a car and truck accessory store,” said Meadowbrook Mall Property Manager Marcello Lalama. “They do tinting, remote start system, install bedliners and car stereos and offer a number of other services and products.”

 

Lalama said the company plans to be open on or before Nov. 1. Unlike Hibbett Sports, which has more than 1,000 stores in 33 states, HD Truck Center is local. In fact, Lalama said he believes they have one other location and that location is in Fairmont.

 

What that likely means is the store is finding success serving truck owners. The owners, according to information provided by Bell is for those four-wheeling or simply use their trucks for work or cruising.

 

The new business will occupy 3,000 square feet. It will be situated next to National Tire & Battery.

 

“For a mall, you want a niche. You want national businesses, but you also want that local flavor that a business like HD Truck Center provides,” said Lalama. “This fills a niche that we don’t have right now. The hope is to bring in new customers that will utilize their business and that those customers will end up becoming new customers for other businesses at the mall.”

 

Lalama said that businesses such as HD Truck Center are important to all malls and shopping plazas.

 

“You have to have the local businesses, the mom and pops, to add to the mix for success in malls such as ours,” said Lalama. “They often provide goods and services that you may not be able to find anywhere else.”