Palmer Park Mall Looks to Fill Vacant Stores

If you've been to the anytime since the start of the New Year, you'll notice that it's a lot quieter.

Not surprising for any mall after the holiday season, but the shopping mecca in is a little emptier these days.

In the past few months, PacSun has packed it in and DollarSmart cashed out, adding to the five other vacant storefronts throughout the mall.

But with spring arriving soon, mall general manager Brian A. Molchany believes that a rebirth is right around the corner.

"At the end of the year, leases expire. At most malls, you'll see a few tenants leave," he said. "It's cyclical. Our leasing department is working on it aggressively."

While no announcements of any new stores are forthcoming, Molchany said he expects some empty shops to be filled in the near future.

"It's a temporary thing, you'll see," he said. "It will only be a short period of time."

Molchany said that of the two most recent departures, one was expected.

He said that PacSun shuttered its shop when it's corporate office made the decision to close numerous stores due to financial difficulties. He said the store had been in the mall for a few years.

DollarSmart, though, left at the end of the year. "That was unexpected," he said.

He's been working with a leasing company to find the right kind of retailers.

"We're looking for women's apparel," Molchany said. "Teenage kids' apparel also does well. We have room for more of both."

Alison Miers, vice president of Easton initiatives for the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce, said that while the mall hasn't contacted her office, the chamber certainly could help filling storefronts.

"We never want to see a segment of the business community struggle," Miers said. "We want our malls to succeed. They provide jobs, part-time, full-time and seasonal. It's important to have those vacancies filled."

The mall, which is anchored by and , features more than 45 stores.

Molchany, who took over in September, said that sales were above expectations during the holiday shopping season. He declined to disclose figures.

"The economy is coming around," he said. "Traffic is up from the same time a year ago. The mall is doing really well."