A long-time Meadowbrook Mall business is closing, but in name only as it will be moving and opening under a new name. There is also another business on the move and one that will be expanding.

Joe Bell, the corporate communications director for Cafaro Company out of Ohio that owns the mall property, confirmed the most recent changes coming to Bridgeport’s retail hub.

 

Shutting its doors at an undisclosed date in the future will be Finish Line. According to the City of Bridgeport’s tax department, it has been in operation since Oct. 29, 1992, or nearly 31 years.

 

The closing, however, is actually a move. Finish Line was acquired by JD Sports, a British sports-fashion retail company that has stores across the United States and globally. The new space is sizable and is located where G.O.A.L. (Gaming on All Levels) and Tru South were located. Those two stores have since relocated.

 

“JD Sports has owned Finish Line for many years,” said Bell. “They have been converting Finish Line stores into JD Sports and this is one of the next ones.”

 

According to an official from JD Sports, this will be the first location of one of their stores in West Virginia. The store will be located between American Eagle Outfitters and T-Mobile. It will also be located very near to the mall’s other retail sports store, Hibbett Sports.

 

That leads to the question of what will be next in the Finish Line space. Bell said CP Gifts, which is located across from Old Navy, will have its new home by the entrance to the Meadowbrook Mall Food Court.

 

The next question is what will go into the space formerly occupied by CP Gifts. Bell had an answer for that as well.

 

“Shoe Department, which has a substantial presence already, is expanding into the space that will be vacated there,” said Bell.

 

The expansion will not be too difficult. The Shoe Department is located directly beside CP Gifts. More on this expansion in the future on Connect-Bridgeport.

 

Editor's Note: Top photo shows workers putting the finishing touches on the revamped sign overlooking Johnson Avenue and visibel to motorists on Interstate 79, while the future space of JD Sports is shown in the second photo. Below is the layout of the future JD Sports, and where Finish Line is currently located.