AUBURN – What’s expected to be the biggest and best Lamey-Wellehan store yet will be going up in the shadow of its former location.

Jim Wellehan, president of the Lewiston-based shoe retailer, said he plans to open a new store sometime next spring at 940 Turner St. The lot is across Turner Street from the old Porteous store in the Auburn Mall.

Lamey-Wellehan had been a tenant in the mall for 25 years until mall management terminated its lease in September. The surprise move forced the retailer to search for a new location.

“The good news is we have one,” said Wellehan last week. “And now we have the time to make it the most wonderful store in our chain.”

The company also has stores in Augusta, Falmouth, Brunswick, Bangor, Waterville and South Portland.

Wellehan has an agreement with Jim Pittman, owner of the 1.5-acre lot, to lease a 7,000-square-foot building that should be under construction soon. Lawyers for the two parties are working out the details of the lease agreement.

The store will be a standalone, with its own parking lot and room for an expanded inventory, said Wellehan. Permits for a retail operation have already been approved.

“We figure our sales will be up 50 percent within two years at our new location,” said Wellehan.

Meanwhile, the store will move into a temporary location in the old Emerson Toyota building on Center Street. Staff began transferring inventory from the mall store to the temporary store this weekend.

“We have 12,000 or 13,000 pairs of shoes, so it could take a few days,” said Wellehan.

Once the retailer is settled in the Center Street location, Wellehan hopes to have an in-store celebration to thank all the people who helped during the transition.

“This really is a wonderful community with great people,” he said.