BRUNSWICK

The exodus of retailers out of the Cook’s Corner area continues. Day’s Jewelers, which operates a store out of Merrymeeting Plaza near Shaw’s on Bath Road, near the entrance to the former Brunswick Naval Air Station, is the latest store to announce its departure.

Day’s is moving to a new location at the Topsham Fair Mall, according to Jim Corey, the Brunswick store’s manager and a coowner of the company.

The heavier traffic flow and lower rent drew Day’s to the new location, according to Corey. Day’s will be moving into a space that has been occupied by America’s Mattress & Furniture Gallery at the Topsham Fair Mall.

The Maine-based chain that employs 140 in this state and New Hampshire has operated out of Merrymeeting Plaza for about 15 years.

Day’s Jewelers’ lease is up at the end of the year, said Corey, who added that there was not much that could have been done to convince the jeweler to stay.

“The plaza has lost one player after another,” said Corey. “Without the foot traffic walking by the store, it was time.”

Although the Navy base across the street closed in 2011, Corey said business at Day’s has continued to grow, especially in the last two years.

“I can’t blame it on the base closing,” said Corey. “We’re doing better than we did when the base was here.”

However, the store isn’t bringing in enough business to compensate for the effort that’s been put into it, Corey said.

Day’s may close the Brunswick store in the first week of January 2015, and could open the Topsham store midway through that month, depending on factors including construction, according to Corey.

Construction of the Topsham store is an investment worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, said Corey.

The new location will allow Day’s to have more showcases and a more modern look, with space for customers to sit as they compare merchandise, said Corey.

Merrymeeting has suffered the loss of several stores in recent years, such as Coldwater Creek and Old Navy, in addition to a Borders, the book and music giant that went defunct in 2011.

Merrymeeting isn’t alone in its struggle to hold onto retailers in the area.

Last week, Town Councilor John Perreault noted that Lamey Wellehan was leaving the nearby Cook’s Corner Shopping Mall for the Topsham Fair Mall as well.

The town of Brunswick has begun looking into why retailers are leaving the Cook’s Corner area, and what can be done to stop it.

“There have been discussions between the town and Merrymeeting Plaza’s landlord, W.S. Management, and Cook’s Corner Mall landlord, DDR Corp., to look at the business climate issues in the Cook’s Corner area,” said Linda Smith, Brunswick’s business development manager, in an email to The Times Record.

Smith continued: “In addition to reaching out to them, the town has been discussing the area’s potential with other developers such as the Priority Group, LLC, Just Because, LLC and Kelley & Kelley Commercial Development, LLC. Retail is still a key component of a healthy Cook’s Corner area, but other economic opportunities such as medical services and office services need to be attracted and expanded. Efforts to address some of the infrastructure issues have been underway and will be brought before the town council in the next few weeks.”

For months, there has been discussion among some members of the council about creating a connector road, funded through a proposed Tax Increment Finance district, that would spur economic development in the area, specifically along Thomas Point Road.

In explaining the TIF process, Interim Town Manager John Eldridge stated: “Development along Thomas Point Road will require traffic movement permits from Maine DOT and road improvements will be required to obtain those permits. Construction of a proposed road between Gurnett Road and Thomas Point Road will allow developers to obtain the traffic permits. The town’s project also envisions improvements to Thomas Point Road and a connection to Tibbetts Drive.

“A funding model for the project is being developed that would require both public and private sources. The publicly funded portion of the project could be paid for with tax increment financing revenues. TIF revenues are generated from the new development in the TIF district and can be used to fund road infrastructure improvements.”

Both the road project and the TIF would need approval from the town council. The full council has yet to vote on the TIF or the road.

Eldridge said he is awaiting an engineering report that will include the cost estimates for the infrastructure improvements.

Council Chairman Benet Pols said that property owners needed to come to agreements on issues such as drainage before the project can realistically come to fruition.

“There’s been no active council conversation regarding the TIF or road whatsoever,” said Pols.

However, Councilor David Watson, a proponent of the connector, said that while negotiations for the connector were long and intense, progress is being made. The road, Watson said, “provides the engine that will stop the financial degrading of the Cook’s Corner area. The loss of businesses will stop.”

“Cook’s Corner will be as busy as it ever was, perhaps even more so,” said Watson. “I see Brunswick as being one of the most financially sound communities in the state.”

Meanwhile, other developments in the area have continued, such as a multi-phase development that has begun near Regal Cinemas with the construction of a Goodwill store.

And in July, the Brunswick Planning Board approved a common development plan that would help pave the way for $20 million of development on 19 acres near the former base’s main entrance. New businesses would include a veterinary clinic, convenience store and gas station, bank, restaurant and two office buildings.

Loss of stores

MERRYMEETING PLAZA has suffered the loss of several stores in recent years, such as Coldwater Creek and Old Navy, in addition to a Borders, the book and music giant that went defunct in 2011.

MERRYMEETING ISN’T ALONE in its struggle to hold onto retailers in the area.

Last week, Town Councilor John Perreault noted that Lamey Wellehan was leaving the nearby Cook’s Corner Shopping Mall.