A casual, women’s-wear store plans to open in Auburn.
By Carol Coultas
Business Writer

AUBURN – The day after one Auburn Mall tenant announces it’s leaving, a new tenant is arriving.

Christopher & Banks, a national women’s apparel store, signed a lease agreement to locate in the Auburn Mall Wednesday. It will occupy the former Lechter’s space and plans to open in early June.

The store features comfortable, classic sportswear for women 35-55 years old “suitable for work or leisure activities,” according to its Web site. There are more than 400 stores in 42 states throughout the U.S.; the only other Christopher & Banks store in Maine is located in Bangor.

The announcement comes on the heels of the departure of the Gap, which will close April 25. David Lee, mall manager, said Gap Inc. did not share with him the reasons it’s closing the store.

“From a mall management standpoint, they were successful and continued to be successful,” said Lee. “We’re disappointed, and I think it’s a disappointment to L-A shoppers.”

Lee said he’s not concerned that the Gap’s departure coupled with last year’s loss of Express could hamper the mall’s ability to draw younger shoppers. The addition of Maurices clothing store in October is helping the mall solidify that demographic.

Also, the mall’s leasing group is targeting retailers with a younger customer base, such as Pac Sun and Hot Topic.

“These are two examples of retailers that would be very successful in L-A,” said Lee. “And they would strengthen our presence with younger folks.”

Lee said there’s even a chance that the Gap will rejoin the mall, as it did in the mid-’90s. The Gap had occupied a smaller space in the mall until 1995 when it left. Three years later it rejoined the mall in a more spacious location.

Lee said it’s a challenge to draw and retain stores to the mall, but he’s hoping an upcoming trade association meeting between leasing companies and retailers will net some new tenants. General Growth Properties took over the mall’s management in July 2002 and will be talking to prospective retailers on the Auburn Mall’s behalf then.

In addition to Maurices, the mall welcomed Finish Line, a national footwear retailer in November and Canal Street, a local gift and apparel store, in January. Cards Are In, a local card store, recently relocated and expanded in the mall. The Auburn Public Library will locate in the mall temporarily this summer while renovation work is being done on its building.

Lee said the mall is “holding its own” as far as its occupancy rate goes. Forty-four retailers are listed in its directory; there’s space for 58.

“We all want to get every store filled as much as the shoppers do,” he said.

ccoultas@sunjournal.com

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