BRUNSWICK

Why does the Topsham Fair Mall seem to thrive while vacancies continue to grow at Cook’s Corner area malls?

Topsham Fair Mall is locally owned, which gives its management a leg up in how to do business in Maine. That’s one conclusion reached by Brunswick Business Development Manager Linda Smith, who has been tasked with figuring out how to keep retailers from leaving the Cook’s Corner area.

“Topsham has the advantage of being local, and are pretty responsive,” Smith told the Brunswick Town Council on Monday.

Two retailers have confirmed that they will be vacating Brunswick by the end of the year.

Day’s Jewelers, which has had a location at Merrymeeting Plaza for about 15 years, is relocating to Topsham to take advantage of heavier traffic and lower rent. Merrymeeting Plaza lost other tenants in recent years, including Coldwater Creek, Old Navy and Borders.

The Lamey Wellehan shoe store at Cook’s Corner Mall is moving out after 30 years there in order to expand in Topsham.

Massachusetts-based WS Management, owner of Merrymeeting Plaza on Bath Road, which is anchored by supermarket Shaw’s, shares the council’s concerns regarding the number of vacancies on its property, said Smith.

WS is working on a marketing strategy to attract business to Merrymeeting. But that strategy is proprietary, and the details of which could not be shared, said Smith.

WS owns about 15 shopping centers in Maine, including Freeport Crossing and Wal-Mart Plaza in Rockland.

“They do manage other malls in Maine, and they manage to be a little more responsive,” said Smith.

Ohio-based DDR Corporation owns Cook’s Corner Shopping Mall at Gurnet and Bath roads, which is home to a Sears, Staples and Radio Shack, as well as the Regal Cinemas across the street from the main mall area.

Working with DDR has “been more of a mixed response,” said Smith, who said she’s “had limited conversations” but was hopeful for a more in-depth dialogue.

In comparison to WS, “DDR is a little more removed, and looking at national models rather than Maine-specific,” said Smith.

DDR owns 456 retail properties in the U.S., but only one — Cook’s Corner Mall — is located in Maine.

Smith said there has been a recognition on the parts of both landlords as to the problem.

“It’s basically an issue of us working with them to provide marketing opportunities, and providng whatever support we can,” Smith said.

Topsham is perceived as being on the upswing. Cook’s Corner malls are perceived to be “gearing to get back up,” said Smith.

In response to a question posed by Town Councilor Steve Walker, Smith said that both landlords may want to make a large effort “to grab the momentum back” before the town considers developing tax increment financing in order to lure businesses back to the area.

Mall management

MASSACHUSETTS-BASED WS Management is the owner of Merrymeeting Plaza on Bath Road, which is anchored by supermarket Shaw’s.

OHIO-BASED DDR Corporation owns Cook’s Corner Shopping Mall at Gurnet and Bath roads, which is home to a Sears, Staples and Radio Shack, as well as the Regal Cinemas across the street from the main mall area.

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