It’s no secret that Meadowbrook Mall lost its first anchor store in more than 16 years recently with the announcement and subsequent closing of Sears. The last time the mall lost one of its largest retailers was back in 2001 when Montgomery Ward closed its doors for good on March 31 of that year.

 

It took a couple of years, but eventually after the entire space occupied by that long-time chain was demolished it paved the way for Target. On July 30 of 2003 Target opened its doors.

 

The announcement of Target coming in, of course, came well before the opening of the business. Much like then when working in the media, one of the inquiries I receive on a regular basis is “what’s next” at the mall.

 

Sears leaving the mall – although the Auto Center remains – has opened up 70,000 square foot-plus of retail space. So who fills it?

 

I have no idea. In fact, what follows is pretty much me spit balling options that are out there. I’ve talked to no one from the city, the mall, the mall’s owner Cafaro Company or anyone in vast world of retail. If mall or city officials are aware of something, they won’t talk about it until it’s a done deal because a leak can kill any type of negotiation.

 

What we have in this blog is simple. I’ve just did some internet research and talked to some friends and others about some possibilities. Some that may be possible and some that may have no chance at all – I just don’t know.

 

Before I get in to some options out there, let me stop the most frequent inquiry that comes any time there’s a space that opens up at the mall from 5,000 square feet up to the 70,000 square feet at the mall. Macy’s is not coming to Bridgeport.

 

I don’t have insider knowledge to that fact and maybe if all the stars aligned correctly and the readings of Nostradamus can be translated correctly it could happen. Here’s letting me tell you it won’t.

 

Right now, Macy’s is like many other big box retailers. They’re not expanding. In fact, they’re closing stores – dozens of them. So it’s highly unlikely you’ll see Macy’s coming to Bridgeport.

 

Now, here’s a glimmer of hope for you Macy’s diehards. Have you heard of Macy’s Backstage? I had not until I started looking into this.

 

Basically it is Macy’s on a smaller scale and considered an “outlet store” for the retail giant. According to their Facebook page they offer “savvy, fashion-forward bargain hunters access to a world of top trends, amazing style and the brands Macy’s is famous for, all at never-before-seen prices.” Those are their words, not mine. That said, it is possible? Again, this is just speculation of what’s out there.

 

This isn’t speculation. They right now have stores in eight states, including three – Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania – that border West Virginia. Unlike their parent company, they are opening stores in malls, including six openings from April 29 through May 13.

 

In the same mode, Saks Fifth Avenue is not likely coming to the mall. However, they also have a similar concept called “Off Fifth,” which offers the Saks brands at discount prices in a much smaller space than Saks typically occupies. They have stores in Ohio, Virginia and Pennsylvania – including one at the Tanger Outlets in Washington, Pa.

 

Since we’re following this line of thinking, what about Nordstrom? Again, probably not an option. And again, they have the same concept as the above two – Nordstrom Rack. It’s the outlet style store of the main brand where the concept is to offer goods at a significant discount. Like the others, they have stores situated not too far away, with the closest being in Pittsburgh.

 

The one, however, that drew most of my attention is a store that’s been around for decades that I’m not aware of. It’s called Boscov’s.

 

Part of the reason it got my attention was that Joe Bell, the director of Corporate Communications for the Cafaro Company that owns the mall, mentioned them by name in January  when I talked to him about what are the next steps in the process of filling the space of Sears.

 

Understand, what Bell told me wasn’t some harbinger of what’s next. What it did tell me is that Cafaro is not only aware of this company, but is working with them in scenarios similar to what the mall faces. He pointed to a Sears closing at one of their properties in Erie, Pa., and the space is being retrofitted to be home to a new Boscov’s.

 

Bell told me Boscov’s is based out of Reading, Pa. They have 50 locations in several states and open usually a store a year in several areas, Bell said. They don’t have a location in West Virginia, but have more than one located right on the border in Maryland, Pennsylvania and Ohio. They’re standard in that they offer many name brand items, but no so standard is that they’ve maintained a policy of slow growth for more than 100 years.

 

Is the next mall business in Bridgeport? I guess it’s possible, but there’s an issue. Boscov’s generally is two stories and requires twice as much space. With parking at a premium and Sears at one story is an opening by Boscov’s possible? Could Sears be torn down and a two story location be constructed in its place? If we can put a man on the moon (conspiracy theories aside), I would imagine it’s possible.

 

Wouldn’t it be great to see Target become a Super Target? That would mean a huge expansion of the grocery selections available and ease concerns for residents who want a full-service grocery store on that end of Bridgeport.

 

Of course, expansion of Target would mean the loss of parking – barring the demolition of Sears and some additional parking that could result. Parking, for anyone that has visited the mall during the holidays, is already at a premium.

 

What about moving Dick’s Sporting Goods inside the where Sears was located? Too much space to fill? Consider what’s taking place at the Huntington Mall in Barboursville, which I believe is a Cafaro property, has a Dick’s Sporting Goods being located right next to outdoor specialty shop Field & Stream, which is owned by Dick’s Sporting Goods.

 

Possible? Could be if it’s happening elsewhere. That would leave Dick’s location – the site of the original Phar-Mor – vacant. If that would happen, perhaps a small grocery store could arrive similar to an Aldi or something of that nature. I know folks what Whole Foods and other chains, many of which I’ve blogged about and which hundreds of you – including myself – sent emails asking them to come to Bridgeport.

 

It didn’t happen. Maybe it will. Maybe it won’t. Maybe the fact that a Sportsman’s Warehouse is opening in Morgantown this year may make that a good strategic move and open up additional space for a grocery store or another commercial entity. Again, I’m not in retail and I don’t know- I’m just a regular guy with a blog.

 

Heck, there’s also the possibility the Sears space could be divided. If that happens, several smaller stores – national, regional and local – could find homes in that location.

 

I just don’t know what will happen. What I do know is this; the mall has survived more than 30 years and despite some recent closures is still pretty much filled with tenants. It’s well beyond the standard lifespan of malls and recently saw more than $5 million in renovations, which tells you that the Cafaro Company isn’t just milking the cow in their inventory, they’re actively feeding it.

 

All of this, as mentioned multiple time, is just speculation. What isn’t is my confidence that something will be coming. I just hope it’s sooner rather than later.

 

Stay tuned and please feel free to throw other names in the comment section below. Remember, this isn’t science, just a fun guessing game and the ball is in your court if you so choose to take it.

 

Editor's Note: Top photo shows an aerial of the mall complex, while signs showing clearances prior to Sears cclosing is Bridgeport shown in the second photo. The Macy's Backstage logo is shown next, while a Boscov's location in Pennsylvania is shown below.