Eastgate Square mulls options for former Sears building

Eastgate Square owner representatives say the mall is mulling over options for the former Sears site.

“Efforts are ongoing, though we do not have any information to share at this time,” said Bentall Kennedy Group corporate communications vice-president Rahim Ladha.

Ladha added, “Our property management team will be certain to promptly share information with the public at the appropriate time.”

Eastgate’s general manager, Rick Saker, said in March that the mall was considering a number of options for its vacant Sears space.

He also said the resulting options would “improve the shopping experience for our customers.”

The Sears store closed earlier this year. It was among the last remaining Sears Canada stores to shut down on Jan. 14, following the company’s liquidation process.

The retailer declared bankruptcy last year leaving 15,000 people out of work. It followed the closure of other big-box stores in Canada, including Target and Zellers.

Eastgate’s Sears became the mall’s biggest anchor store in January 2012 after it lost Walmart, which relocated to 510 Centennial Pkwy. N.

The Walmart space was renovated to create a new retail wing that includes Dollarama, Winners and Sport Chek. That wing opened in August 2013.

The Sears site is about 90,000 square feet.