Continuing to grow
By Kurt Hauglie
PORTAGE TOWNSHIP – The Copper Country Mall has two new tenants, and efforts are continuing to bring in more businesses, according to mall Manager Amy Moyle.
Gogebic Community College opened last year, and the 12,600-square-foot local office of the Department of Human Services opened this spring.
Moyle said the Copper Country Mall – which opened in 1978 – is owned by CCM Capital Partners in Chicago. It is managed by UPM Management, LLC.
Moyle said there are discussions to bring a new tenant into the south anchor space previously occupied by Kmart.
“We’ve been working with some national retailers,” she said.
Although the JC Penney company has been having financial difficulties prompting the closing of many of its stores around the country, including the one in Marquette, Moyle said as of now there are no plans to close the store at the mall because sales have done relatively well there.
“They were decent,” she said.
Returning this year is the Halloween Superstore, Moyle said. It will be located next to Dunham’s Sports on the south end of the mall.
“It’s a good spot for them,” she said.
Various activities are continuing in the mall as in years past, Moyle said. In September, Houghton Baptist Church will conduct its Family Fun Day. In October, registration for the Rally America will take place there. The Keweenaw Family Resource Center will conduct its annual consignment sale.
Also coming up in the mall is an auction, Moyle said.
“It’s a big surplus auction,” he said.
Moyle said many of the chain retailers who have moved out of the mall in recent years did so because of corporate decisions, not because of problems at the mall.
“You have to (look at) the big picture,” she said.
Moyle said there are plans to change the outside facade of the mall, with individual business having their own look, such as was done for DHS location.
“It just takes time and money,” she said.
Moyle said having a mixture of retail and other uses – such as DHS and GCC – in the mall is a good way to keep it viable.
“This is great for the community,” she said. “We’re keeping the mall alive.”