Print this story |
E-mail story |
This story has 14 comments Add your own |
iPod friendly | Bookmark this
What is this?
Anchor store coming to Northbridge Mall
Dunham's Sports will need extra space
Published Saturday, November 22, 2008
Northbridge Mall officials announced Friday they have signed a lease agreement for a new anchor store that not only will fill a space that has been vacant for about three years but also will need an expansion of the building.
Dunham’s Sports is slated to open in late spring of 2009, said Pam Folkens, marketing director at Northbridge Mall. It will move into a space where the Only Deals discount goods store once occupied. That spot was last used three years ago by Hy-Vee Warehouse. The annual Albert Lea Tribune’s annual Easter egg hunt was held there last year.
The nearest Dunham’s store is in Fairmont.
“We’re very excited because they will be a junior anchor,” Folkens said.
Herberger’s department store is the primary anchor at Northbridge Mall. In other words, Herberger’s is the largest store and Dunham’s Sports will be the second largest store.
The mall will need to add 10,000 square feet to accommodate the 24,000-square-foot sporting goods store, Folkens said.
Besides Fairmont, other Dunham’s Sports stores in Minnesota are in Duluth, Red Wing, Virginia, Waite Park and Wilmar. In Iowa, there are stores in Davenport, Des Moines, Fort Dodge, Sioux City and Spencer. The company also has stores in South Dakota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Kentucky and Maryland.
The company, based in Waterford, Mich., was founded in 1937 as Dunham’s Bait & Tackle, according to its Web site.
It also states: “Dunham’s stores were recently redesigned in a ‘race-track’ floor plan, to give better segmentation and provide a more unique shopping experience in a ‘superstore’ format. In addition to traditional sporting goods, Dunham's stores now offer a full line of fashions and leisure clothing including blue jeans, shirts, sweaters, eyewear and athletic and casual footwear.”
Folkens said the mall staff is excited about the lease.
“It will be a really nice addition to both the mall and Albert Lea to have so much available in one location,” she said.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SHARE THIS STORY?
Comments
Posted by pacific (anonymous) on November 22, 2008 at 12:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I hope once this store opens that Albert Lea doesn't forget about Tiger City Sports and Martins Cycling and Fitness that has been there for Albert Lea and the surrounding communities for many years.
Posted by citizen07 (anonymous) on November 22, 2008 at 8:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I hope they can make a go of it, I don't know how big the demand for sporting supplies are in a town this size. At least it will bring more jobs.
Posted by vikings (anonymous) on November 22, 2008 at 9:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
annual....annual??? was it their annual easter egg hunt, im not sure?
Posted by dj8887 (anonymous) on November 23, 2008 at 1:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I am sorry, but I know I won't support them. Heck I hardly even go to the mall. What is there? The bad thing is the economy is so bad right now, I would hate to see a store of this kind come to Albert Lea. Everyone knows we already have two other sports stores in town. I just don't see the desire to have a 3rd or 4th one (clothing sports store already exists in the mall across from Maurices), unless they closed already. And it will add jobs for the area, right! Just like people that shop at Herbergers, if you want to wear the same shirt or jacket that someone you know has, go to Herbie's. Not only will you see the same top once or twice, you may see it a 3rd or 4th time on someone in the area.
Posted by hometownguy (anonymous) on November 23, 2008 at 10:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I am excited to see a new sporting goods store come to town, especially if they stock hunting and fishing clothes and equipment. Those of us into outdoor sports make many trips to Cabella's to buy our equipment. It would be great if we could keep our dollars here in Albert Lea. I will continue to support our current sporting goods stores, however, I'm hoping this new store has a wider variety of products.
Posted by observer (anonymous) on November 23, 2008 at 11:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I too am excited to see them come to town, hopefully they will offer a large variety of outdoor specialties. Great job Northbridge Mall.
Posted by Wildbill (anonymous) on November 23, 2008 at 1:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This is great to get another store of any kind to town. It's called selection, compettion ability to attract outsiders to come here because of choice.
Posted by mosedart (anonymous) on November 23, 2008 at 2:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)
They'll be closed within a year.
Posted by time2share (anonymous) on November 23, 2008 at 2:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I think we have to look at this as a positive. We can't worry about what this might do to other business' and then complain about "no new business' coming in". It would be nice to have business' that will pull customers in off the freeways. I think this might do it...Look at what Cabelas has done to that area on the freeway north of here...New eating places, motels, etc...Remember that potential customers coming off the freeway from the south have the option to spend their money in AL before they hit Owatonna. These other competitor stores may find it an advantage to move closer to the freeway systems as well. Then, who knows maybe people will even consider moving more manufacturing into the area just east of the mall.
Posted by Wildbill (anonymous) on November 23, 2008 at 7:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I wonder if our newly elected mayor will be able to convince businesses from Owatonna to move down here?I don't say that sarcastically, but hopefully he'll have will some inroads up their for businesses.
Posted by dj8887 (anonymous) on November 23, 2008 at 7:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Please keep in mind people, this is suppose to be a retirement community, at least that is what I was told. So therefore I highly doubt there will be other big businesses moving in the area. Recall the city of Albert Lea has had opportuntities in the past, and those businesses didn't settle here. I owned a small business and I had to close my doors because of the competition that came in this area. Also, look at the few businesses that have closed their doors in the last 2 years or even the one's that have closed at the mall. I am just stating the facts.
Posted by wildthing (anonymous) on November 24, 2008 at 8:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
dj8887 thats the thinking we need to get out of that this is a retirement community. Thats why we elect new mayors and city officals so we can get more jobs here and say hey look what we have to offer you.
Posted by tamilynne (anonymous) on November 24, 2008 at 9:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I think it is an excellent thing to come to town! This is a community where alot of people fish and hunt... we need a REAL sporting goods store that carries these items.. Not just the one isle at ShopKo or the two isles at WalMart. My husband and I go out of town often, and usually stop at Cabellas and to Mills Fleet Farm and even Dicks Sporting goods just so that we can get the tackle we need.
Have you been to either Tiger City or Marvins lately? Three months ago I tried finding a new pair of inline skates at both... To my dismay i only found two womens styles at each, and a small spattering of sizes, forcing me to take my business out of town.
Posted by alumnijt (anonymous) on December 12, 2008 at 3:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
As a former employee of Dunham's as well as a previous resident of Albert Lea I just want eveyone to know Dunhams will be a great change. Dunahms offers firearms, fishing, hunting, as well as hockey, baseball, soccer, football, basketball, volleyball, winter wear some snowboarding, toys, exercising equipment, extreme sports such as skating, paintball and many more, shoes casual and athletic and a golf section. This stores prices can be hard to beat. I'm not telling you to stop shopping at area stores, but make dunhams a new stop while shopping its a great store and it gets involved with the community. Keep an open mind albert lea.
Post a comment (Terms of Use Policy)
(Requires free registration.)