The City of Prince George will help as much as it can with Pine Centre Mall’s search for new tenants when the Sears department store closes at the end of this year, economic development officer Melissa Barcellos said.
“We would provide all of the stats and information that helps [potential tenants] build their business case in locating in that space,” Barcellos said.
The closure of Sears aside, Barcellos said it appears the amount of retail space available in the city is close to fully occupied.
The one exception is Parkwood Mall, where a reported 34,000 square feet of space is available over a number of spots.
As for the downtown core, Downtown Prince George vice-president Kirk Gable said 25 new businesses had opened there in the last two years and suggested the vacancy rate for street-level retail is lower now.
Another 30,000 square feet becomes available soon when hunting and fishing retailer Wholesale Sports closes its Redwood Square location as the chain’s owner, United Farmers of Alberta Co-operative Ltd., pulls out of the business.
