A Massachusetts-based furniture chain store is expanding to South Portland, intending to occupy a huge vacant space in the Maine Mall.

Jordan’s Furniture announced Tuesday that it moving into the space formerly occupied by Filene’s/Bon-Ton. When the store opens in spring 2020 it will be the furniture company’s seventh location in New England and its first in Maine.

Jordan’s will move into a 120,000-square-foot space that has been vacant since the Bon-Ton department store closed in August 2017. The arrival of the furniture retailer puts the Maine Mall at nearly full occupancy.

“We’re thrilled with this news. We’ve been working with Jordan’s for quite some time to get them the correct space,” said Craig Gorris, general manager of the Maine Mall. “We think this is a win-win for Jordan’s, the mall and the whole market in general.”

Jordan’s will use two stories to display furniture and mattresses, and an extensive outlet center. It will also have an entertainment complex, although no details were provided. At other Jordan’s locations there are IMAX theaters, ropes courses and water shows.

Gorris said Jordan’s has not provided any details about the company’s plans for the entertainment complex, but he believes it will be a draw for shoppers.

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“That will be one more thing to set them apart from traditional furniture retailers,” Gorris said.

Craig Young, a partner and broker with The Boulos Co., said he was surprised to hear a furniture store was moving into such a large space, but he was not surprised it will include an alternative use.

“You’re seeing a migration away from historically classic retail like clothing to these alternative uses,” Young said, pointing to gyms, theaters, churches and trampoline parks that have opened in recent years in malls and former big box stores.

This is the second large, Boston-area furniture chain to recently announce expansion plans in Maine.

In March, Bernie & Phyl’s announced plans to take over the former Toys R Us space in South Portland. It plans to open a much smaller, 44,000-square-feet store this spring.

When Jordan’s opens, it will be among the largest furniture stores in Maine. Furniture Mattress & More opened last year in a 150,000-square-foot space in the Bangor Mall previously occupied by Macy’s.

Jordan’s president, Eliot Tatelman, said in a news release that he is “thrilled” to open the store in Maine.

“It will be a perfect market for us. Many residents in Maine have already heard of Jordan’s due to our longstanding relationship with the Red Sox and our annual promotion,” he said. “I cannot wait to introduce Jordan’s to the rest of the Maine market. Once open, our store will be a destination. It will be one-stop shopping for not only furniture and mattresses but also entertainment, and maybe more. We are excited about this project and look forward to working together with the community.”


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