A long-time business in Wichita Falls is set to pack up and move to a new location.
Gary Mehan, owner of property at 3127 Lawrence Road, confirmed Thursday that Spencer’s has signed a contract to move into a new 3,000-square-foot building to be constructed at the location.
Mehan said he expects permits from the city to be completed in a few days and work on the new Spencer’s will start within seven to 10 days.
He did not have a firm opening date for the new tenant.
Spencer’s, a novelty retailer, has had a location in Sikes Senter since the mall opened 50 years ago, according to original tenant lists. The company also operates the Spirit Halloween stores.
According to the Spencer’s website, the company began as a mail order business in 1947 and opened its first brick-and-mortar store in New Jersey’s Cherry Hill Mall in 1963. It bills itself as the “go-to destination for the latest trends, tees, body jewelry, décor and more.”
Any offers for Sikes Senter?
The Sikes Senter property was purchased by the city of Wichita Falls Economic Development Corporation in October with the intention of selling it to a developer for demolition and redevelopment as retail outlets with space for a stadium for Midwestern State University.
Moriah Williams, CEO of Forward Wichita Falls, the city’s economic development arm, said on Thursday no firm offers for the property had been received.
“We hope to be in that position by the end of the summer,” Williams said.
Records obtained by the Times Record News through an open records request to the city showed the Spencer’s location in the mall has a lease that expires on Jan. 31, 2027.
Williams said mall leases have 90-day terminations built in so tenants can cancel when they choose.
Shoe store coming to Wichita Falls
Mehan said Spencer’s will be in a standalone building near a Skecher’s Shoe Store, which will open in a remodeled former furniture and mattress building that Mehan also owns.
Broker Andy Lee said the shoe store was scheduled to open in June.
Mehan said enough room exists in that building for one more business, and he is in talks with potential tenants for that space. He said the structure, which was originally a moving company warehouse, will receive an extensive exterior makeover in addition to interior modifications.
The site is located north of the Quail Creek Crossing shopping center.
Mehan said that shopping center is completely filled with tenants.
(This story was updated to meet our standards.)
This article originally appeared on Wichita Falls Times Record News: Longtime Wichita Falls retailer plans move to new location
Reporting by Lynn Walker, Wichita Falls Times Record News / Wichita Falls Times Record News
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