July 31, 2005
Speaking Of Pioneer Courthouse Square
Former Powell's Location Still In Limbo
One item worth passing along from last week's quarterly meeting of the Pioneer Courthouse Square Board of Trustees.
Back last year, Powell's opted to not renew the lease on its travel-related store, which had been sited inside the southwest corner of the Square, leaving the Board to pursue other options for that location.
The focus has been on attracting a restaurant of some sort (deemed to be in the "best interests of the public and the Square"), and this week's meeting revealed that they reportedly were close to a deal with what must have been a chain, although they didn't identify it, going so far as to set a price, work out a budget, and determine a source and funding.
In the end, said chain apparently decided it had "too much on their plate," was "stretched too thin," and begged off. The Square remains in contact with this chain, and it is apparently hoped that "sometime in the next quarter or two," this chain (whoever it may be) may return to pursue the site at a later date.
In the meantime, the Board said that it's looking into interim uses for the site for over the next year to eighteen months. Although nothing in particular was specified, it was said that there are "some pretty good leads" on such an interim tenant.
Comments (3)
Steve on 31 Jul 2005
I have a promising, but unspecified reaction to this information.
DF on 01 Aug 2005
They should put a post office there.
Bob R. on 02 Aug 2005
DF -
That is a great idea! Anyone know of the feasibility? (Ability for postal vehicles, etc. to access the space... any better/worse than the original courthouse location? Enough square footage?)
- Bob R.