BANGOR, Maine — The city of Bangor is suing the owners of the Bangor Mall because of claims that the parking lot, roof, and sign do not meet the standards of city ordinances. Despite the worn state, some are hopeful that the mall can be revived.
The mall first opened in 1978 and was a popular shopping and entertainment destination for locals and day-trippers. However, starting in 2017 and the departure of Macy’s was when Anne Kreig, Bangor’s economic development director, started to see the mall decline.
“Stores come and go in a mall as the market changes and styles change, but the anchors are called anchors for a reason,” Krieg stated in an email. “Anchor stores are essential to the life of a mall. The losses of those anchors was a sign.”
Today, the mall is largely empty and is showing its age. Potholes many feet wide and numerous inches deep scar the parking lot. Inside, dozens of ceiling tiles are stained with water or missing completely.
The parking lot’s divots, a probable leaking roof, and a sign reading “Bangor Mall” that is missing a “B” and “N,” led the city of Bangor to sue the Namdar Realty Group LLC.
“The goals we want the most are for the roof to be maintained properly so that rain is not leaking inside and that the parking lot is maintained so that cars are not hitting these giant potholes,” Bangor’s City Solicitor David Szewczyk said.
Michele Hutchins owns one of the remaining businesses calling the mall home. She has seen the mall’s decline.
“We've noticed some creeping in of water stains on the ceiling. We have not noticed any actual damage in the shop, but we feel like it’s only a matter of time sadly,” Hutchins said.
On a typical weekend, she estimates her business will be a couple of hours between sales, however, for two weekends a year, the mall she describes as “pretty depressing” is full of life.
The sixth annual Bangor Mall Craft Fair is estimated to bring in 20,000 shoppers, according to Kathy Harvey, the event’s organizer.
“They spend their money and their money stays here, we are just honored to be able to help them all,” Harvey said.
Amongst the 350 vendors filling the mall is McKenzie Evans, owner of Sunshine Creative. She hopes that the mall can become the hangout it once was.
“Hopefully events like this kind of get people doing that and bringing some life to it,” Evans said.
The craft fair will return for a second weekend Nov. 16-17.
