maine mall

[d_fife]

I have been been to the Maine mall before and it is the biggest mall in maine. It opened in 1971 with a 102,000 square foot Sears, a 188,000 square foot Jordan Marsh (Jordan marsh opened in 1968) and the section of the mall between Jordan Marsh and Sears and in 1984 the section of the mall with a 80,000 square foot Porteous, a 80,000 square foot JC penney and and a 120,000 square foot Filene's was added. In 1994 the mall was renovated and the food court was either added or renovated. Porteous closed in late 1994 and became the two story (The building was 80,000 square feet) filene's men store/Sports authority and in 1993 the 50,000 square foot lechmere was added. Lechmere closed in 1997 and a year later became David's bridal and Best Buy and in 1996 Jordan marsh became Macy's and in 1997 Woolworth closed and in 1999 Woolworth became Linens 'n things and in 1999 Filene's Basement closed and in 2002 Filene's basement became Chuck E cheese and VInny's T restuarant. The mall is 1.1 or 1.2 million square feet.

[Zayre88]

Macy's at the Maine Mall.  It all started 36 years ago with a stand-alone Jordan Marsh built in the middle of what had been woods and a pig farm.

[d_fife]

this Macy's is in maine mall.

[d_fife]

this filene's in the maine mall will be divested early this year.

[d_fife]

this section is the later part of filene's and jc penny.

[d_fife]

macy's

[d_fife]

another pic of filene's and jc penny

[d_fife]

back of jc penny

[d_fife]

sears auto in maine mall

[d_fife]

sears auto facing Chuck E cheese and VInnys T (formerly Filene's basement)

[d_fife]

www.generalgrowthproperties.com says Best buy will move across from Sears where the old MAine MAll Cinema (That closed in 2002 or 2003 and torn down not too long ago) wasin 2006. But why the best buy is in a good enough location and is the same size as most best buys. the store was a lechmere. the best buy is listed under development area. what will become of the 2 story 120,000 square foot Filene's adn the closing home store (Above Sports authority. IS BEST BUY MOVING TRUE!!!! it would make no sense for them to move it!!!! the learning store is gone and sweets etc closed. warner brothers store closed in 1998. Disney store got reformated early this year and has glass entrance with the mickey mouse logo entrance. KB toys relocated from the spot that was by lenscrafters by JCPEnny and FYE to the spot near SEars and Linens n things and waldenbooks. EMS is  gone and was a seasonal store when I saw it a week and a half ago. the mall always goes through changes. Ruby tuesday opened near MAcy's a few years ago. the macy's has an upstairs.

[ibor132]

As far as I know, GGP has submitted the plans for moving Best Buy and David's Bridal across the street to the South Portland planning board. There's quite a few rumours flying around the mall about what might be done with the space, but it sounds quite likely that they'll cut it up and make another entrance there. I'll be watching this for sure.

EMS is gone because they eliminated mall stores completely, afaik. Dream Machine is in there for the moment (and for at least another year or so). Not sure what will happen if DM finds  better space. Also not sure yet what's going into the old DM space in the food court, although there was a rumour that Sarku was moving over there.

[d_fife]

Originally posted by ibor132
As far as I know, GGP has submitted the plans for moving Best Buy and David's Bridal across the street to the South Portland planning board. There's quite a few rumours flying around the mall about what might be done with the space, but it sounds quite likely that they'll cut it up and make another entrance there. I'll be watching this for sure.

EMS is gone because they eliminated mall stores completely, afaik. Dream Machine is in there for the moment (and for at least another year or so). Not sure what will happen if DM finds  better space. Also not sure yet what's going into the old DM space in the food court, although there was a rumour that Sarku was moving over there.

I went to the maine mall last weekend and EMS is indded gone and dream machine. But filene's had a closing sale and was 30 to 40 percent off and the old learning store is becoming a new store and sweets etc is gone. it would make sense for the best buy to stay in the mall. so is the filene's home store with having the sale.

[ibor132]

I'll be very curious to see what happens. Without Best Buy and Filenes, the mall will be missing two full anchors, and part of another.

[d_fife]

Originally posted by ibor132
I'll be very curious to see what happens. Without Best Buy and Filenes, the mall will be missing two full anchors, and part of another.

this happeend before and they can probably replace those anchors.

[d_fife]

Originally posted by d_fife

Originally posted by ibor132
I'll be very curious to see what happens. Without Best Buy and Filenes, the mall will be missing two full anchors, and part of another.

this happeend before and they can probably replace those anchors.

why do they want to do this when the best buy is in a  big enough and good enough location!!! the best buy has been there for 7.5 years. the access to that cinema is not as good.

here is this from http://www.wcsh6.com/home/article.asp?id=32422

   
Mall Owner May Move Two Retailers

Big changes may be in the works at Maine's largest shopping mall.  
 
 
   
SOUTH PORTLAND, Maine (AP) -- The owner of the Maine Mall in South Portland wants to relocate the electronics retailer Best Buy and David's Bridal to a new building to constructed at the site of a former movie theater complex across the street.

General Growth Properties could not be reached for comment on the plan, which was recently filed with the city.

The mall owner is poised to lose anchor store Filene's as part of a consolidation by Federated Department Stores. Federated, which last year bought the parent company of Filene's, owns Macy's, which also has a store at the Maine Mall.

http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/news/local/060307mallstore.shtml says this: MARK PETERS, Portland Press Herald Writer

Tuesday, March 7, 2006

Best Buy, bridal store may move out of mall


By MARK PETERS, Portland Press Herald Writer

Copyright ? 2006 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc.

SOUTH PORTLAND ? Shifts in anchor stores at Maine's largest mall could include the relocation of Best Buy to a planned building across the street. General Growth Properties, owner of the Maine Mall, wants to put the popular electronics retailer where Maine Mall Cinema once stood, according to plans filed this month with the city.

The $5.9 million construction project on land owned by General Growth Properties also would create a new home for David's Bridal, another business in the mall.

The relocation of Best Buy comes as the mall prepares to lose another anchor, Filene's, which is closing its main store and a smaller store that focuses on men's clothes and furniture.

The shuttering of Filene's is part of a consolidation effort by Federated Department Stores, which bought the parent company of Filene's last year. The Filene's store became redundant for Federated because it owns Macy's, which also has a store at the Maine Mall.

Officials from General Growth Properties were out of their offices Monday and couldn't be reached for comment. But the change involving anchors could provide new opportunities for the mall, according to an international trade group.

"It really allows a great opportunity to renovate, expand or reconvert," said Patrice Duker, spokeswoman for the International Council of Shopping Centers, based in New York City.

When space opens in a mall, owners can bring in new stores that customers may want, Duker said.

As for moving Best Buy to its own site, Duker said the electronics retailer is well-known among shoppers and doesn't rely as much on mall foot traffic as other retailers do. The shift from a mall to a nearby, stand-alone site is common, she said.

The new Best Buy building would replace the old cinema and a former International House of Pancakes. Both buildings have been demolished.

A Pizza Hut still stands on the site, but it will have to relocate under the plans of General Growth Properties, said Stephen Puleo, community planner for the city.

Plans submitted to the city call for a 55,000-square-foot building with the well-known blue-and-yellow Best Buy sign. David's Bridal would have space in the same building.

Puleo said mall officials have talked with city planning officials about creating a new entrance for the space currently occupied by Best Buy. Regal Entertainment Group has expressed interest in building a movie theater on the mall property.

Puleo said his initial review of the project found no major problems that could derail approval by the Planning Board.

General Growth Properties has proposed a filtration system to address water run-off from the planned 318-space parking lot, and traffic improvements such as a new entrance across from Philbrook Avenue.

The Best Buy project would happen as the Maine Department of Transportation makes road improvements in the area. Construction over the next three years is expected to widen a nearby bridge from four lanes to six and include steps to improve traffic flow on Maine Mall Road.

The Planning Board is expected to review the new building plans next month. A General Growth Properties timetable calls for construction to start in May and finish in December.

As for Filene's, it remains open as part of a clearance sale.

The future of the main Filene's store is up to Federated because it owns the property. General Growth Properties owns the main Filene's store is up to Federated because it owns the property. General Growth Properties owns the smaller Filene's space and is working to find a new tenant.

the picture is from  http://www.wcsh6.com/home/article.asp?id=32422

[Zayre88]

It's funny because the aerial picture of the Maine Mall in the General Growth website shown Best Buy at the former Cinema since late last year but no news about the move was confirmed back then.  

http://www.generalgrowth.com/content/live/img_aerial/The%20Maine%20Mall_aerial.jpg

[d_fife]

Originally posted by Zayre88
It's funny because the aerial picture of the Maine Mall in the General Growth website shown Best Buy at the former Cinema since late last year but no news about the move was confirmed back then.  

http://www.generalgrowth.com/content/live/img_aerial/The%20Maine%20Mall_aerial.jpg

the theater has been leveled.

[Zayre88]

Originally posted by ibor132
As far as I know, GGP has submitted the plans for moving Best Buy and David's Bridal across the street to the South Portland planning board. There's quite a few rumours flying around the mall about what might be done with the space, but it sounds quite likely that they'll cut it up and make another entrance there.

Best Buy and David's Bridal, in the former Lechmere space:

[gu4ever]

I recently visited the Maine Mall of South Portland, ME.

[gu4ever]

One reason for my visit to the Maine Mall was to photograph the former Jordan Marsh Building and it's dining room, which sadly had closed and been removed to make room for an expanded domestics department.
Also this mall has a rather vintage JC Penny store front made of wood... How retro 70's!!

[kendra]

One reason for my visit to the Maine Mall was to photograph the former Jordan Marsh Building and it's dining room, which sadly had closed and been removed to make room for an expanded domestics department.
Also this mall has a rather vintage JC Penny store front made of wood... How retro 70's!!

Nice photos...I especially like the Filene's interior shots. That space has been vacant (and rather ominously lurking) in that mall for quite some time now. The ex-Jordan Marsh (now Macy's) is a great building, I haven't been there in years and years and perhaps should revisit it next time I am in the Portland area.

I honestly can't recall if the dining room was there when I used to go to the Jordan Marsh in my early adolescence on family trips (this would have been the early-to-mid 1990s). I seem to recall they had a little hearing aid shop or something similar upstairs, which I thought was very interesting. I may be confusing it with another store in that mall or the Newington/Fox Run area in New Hampshire, however, as we usually visited both areas on the same trips.

[retailisking]

John Caterina, Sr. was on the South Portland Planning Board in the early stages of the Maine Mall project in the 1960s and 70s.  His regulatory oversight was critical to its success.  One example: he is the reason why the main thoroughfare leading shoppers to and from the mall is called Maine Mall Road. He died over the weekend at 85.
http://www.pressherald.com/news/john-caterina-sr_-85-banker-veteran-guided-mall-project_2012-01-03.html