Aroostook Centre Mall
An enclosed shopping mall serving Presque Isle and the wider Aroostook County region of Maine.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Aroostook Centre Mall is an enclosed shopping center in Presque Isle, Maine, serving one of the most geographically remote retail markets in the northeastern United States. The mall opened on November 1, 1993, and was developed as a major regional destination for Aroostook County and nearby communities. Its approximately 525,000-square-foot building makes it the third-largest enclosed shopping mall in Maine by area. The center combines department-store and specialty retail with services, food, and family-oriented commercial uses, although its tenant mix has changed considerably as traditional American department stores and national specialty chains have contracted or closed. The mall’s opening was followed shortly by the federal government’s announcement that Loring Air Force Base, nearby in Limestone, would close. Loring had been the region’s largest employer, and the base closure created a difficult economic environment for local businesses and institutions. Aroostook Centre Mall nevertheless continued to operate as an important retail and gathering place for Presque Isle. Its role is shaped by the region’s low population density, long travel distances, seasonal economic patterns, and limited concentration of large-format retail alternatives. Over time, the property hosted a number of national and regional tenants. J. C. Penney and Harbor Freight Tools are identified as anchor stores. Kmart operated at the mall until August 2016, while Sears and Staples were among the other major anchors or large-format tenants that later departed. Staples opened in 2004 in part of space formerly occupied by Porteous, a department-store chain whose Presque Isle location closed in 2003 and was reportedly the last Porteous store. Sears announced the closure of its local store in late 2014, and the former Sears space was subsequently renovated for Harbor Freight Tools, which was operating there by the late 2010s. The former Sears automotive facility later became associated with VIP Parts, Tires and Service. The mall also experienced the closure of smaller tenants and activity-based businesses. Deb Shops left in 2014 as part of a nationwide liquidation. Maine Jump, a children’s family-entertainment center, closed on January 19, 2015, citing rent and local operating costs. In early February 2015, Central Lakes Coin and Currency added a coin and hobby supply store to the tenant mix. Ruby Tuesday closed in early November 2025, and Bath & Body Works reportedly departed in January 2026, described in the supplied reference material as the mall’s last national inline tenant. Ownership and financing have also been significant parts of the property’s history. In June 2001, the mall was sold for $10 million to New York City brothers Eddie and Ralph Sitt, a price described in reference material as less than half of the property’s appraised value at the time. In October 2017, the mall was scheduled for auction. No bidder was found, and Wells Fargo took control of the property for $4 million. These events reflect the financial pressure faced by many enclosed malls as department stores weakened, online shopping expanded, and local demand remained constrained. Aroostook Centre Mall has also made operational improvements. In August 2009, it updated its energy infrastructure by moving toward more efficient heating, cooling, and ventilation systems. Despite tenant turnover and ownership difficulties, the mall remains an active commercial property rather than a defunct brand. Its significance is primarily regional: it provides a centralized indoor retail environment for Presque Isle and surrounding northern Maine communities, while its changing anchors illustrate the broader transformation of the enclosed-shopping-center industry.
History
Aroostook Centre Mall opened on November 1, 1993, in Presque Isle, Maine. The approximately 525,000-square-foot enclosed center was built to serve as a regional retail destination for Aroostook County and surrounding communities. Its opening came at a challenging moment for the local economy: shortly afterward, the federal government announced the closure of Loring Air Force Base, previously the region’s largest employer. The base closure reduced local economic activity and complicated the prospects of a large retail project in a relatively sparsely populated market. The center developed a tenant mix that included department stores, specialty retailers, restaurants, services, and family-oriented businesses. J. C. Penney became one of its continuing anchors. Porteous operated in the mall until 2003; its closure represented the end of that chain’s presence in the market and reportedly made the Presque Isle location the final Porteous store. Staples subsequently opened in 2004 in part of the former Porteous space. The property also hosted Sears and Kmart, two traditional mass-market anchors whose later closures reflected broader changes in American retail. Deb Shops closed in 2014 during a nationwide liquidation, while Sears announced the closure of its Presque Isle store in late 2014. Staples and Sears were both gone by early 2015, and Kmart closed in August 2016. Smaller tenants and attractions also turned over during this period. Maine Jump, a children’s entertainment center, closed on January 19, 2015, citing high rent and the cost of doing business in the local area. Central Lakes Coin and Currency opened a coin and hobby supply shop in early February 2015. The former Sears automotive center later became associated with VIP Parts, Tires and Service. The former Sears anchor space was renovated for Harbor Freight Tools, which was identified as an anchor tenant by the late 2010s. J. C. Penney and Harbor Freight Tools therefore became central parts of the mall’s later retail configuration. The property changed ownership in June 2001, when it was sold for $10 million to New York City brothers Eddie and Ralph Sitt. The reported sale price was less than half of the mall’s appraised value at that time. Financial pressure continued, and the mall was scheduled for auction in October 2017. When no bidder appeared, Wells Fargo took control of the property for $4 million. The event placed the mall within the wider pattern of distressed enclosed-shopping-center ownership during the decline of department stores and the expansion of online retail. Operationally, the mall upgraded its energy systems in August 2009 by moving toward more efficient heating, cooling, and ventilation technology. This improvement was separate from the center’s tenant and ownership challenges but represented an effort to reduce operating inefficiency in a large enclosed building. Later tenant departures further narrowed the mall’s national-brand presence. Ruby Tuesday reportedly closed in early November 2025. Bath & Body Works reportedly closed in January 2026 and was described in the supplied material as the final national inline tenant. The mall remains classified as active, although its retail role increasingly depends on anchor tenants, regional services, practical goods, and local demand rather than the broad national specialty-store mix associated with enclosed malls during the 1990s and early 2000s.
- 2026
Bath & Body Works reportedly closes
[1]Bath & Body Works reportedly departs in January, described as the mall’s last national inline tenant.
- 2025
Ruby Tuesday closes
[1]Ruby Tuesday reportedly closes its location in early November.
- 2017
Harbor Freight redevelopment and distressed ownership
[1]The former Sears space is renovated for Harbor Freight Tools. Later that year, a scheduled auction finds no bidder and Wells Fargo takes control.
- 2016
Kmart closes
[1]Kmart leaves the mall in August 2016.
- 2015
Entertainment tenant closes and specialty shop opens
[1]Maine Jump closes in January, while Central Lakes Coin and Currency adds a coin and hobby shop in February.
- 2014
Sears announces closure
[1]Sears announces that its Presque Isle store will close; Deb Shops also closes during the year as part of a national liquidation.
- 2009
Energy systems are upgraded
[1]The mall improves the efficiency of its heating, cooling, and ventilation systems.
- 2004
Staples opens
[1]Staples opens in part of the space previously occupied by Porteous.
- 2003
Porteous closes
[1]The Porteous store closes, reportedly becoming the last location in the chain.
- 2001
Ownership transfers to the Sitt brothers
[1]Eddie and Ralph Sitt purchase the mall in June for $10 million.
Products and positioning
A regional enclosed shopping center serving Presque Isle, Aroostook County, and nearby northern Maine communities, with a practical retail mix anchored by department-store, hardware, automotive, service, and convenience-oriented tenants.
Department store
J. C. Penney
A department-store anchor offering general merchandise, apparel, home products, and related consumer goods. J. C. Penney is one of the principal anchor tenants associated with the mall.
Tools and hardware · 2017
Harbor Freight Tools
A large-format tools and hardware retailer occupying space renovated from the former Sears location. Its presence gives the mall a practical, destination-oriented anchor focused on tools, equipment, and workshop supplies.
Automotive service
VIP Parts, Tires and Service
An automotive parts and service operation associated with the former Sears Automotive Center, providing vehicle maintenance and related automotive products.
Collectibles and hobby retail · 2015
Central Lakes Coin and Currency
A coin, currency, and hobby-supply retailer that added a specialty shop to the mall in early 2015, broadening the property’s mix beyond conventional apparel and department-store retail.
Brand decisions
2017
Redevelop the former Sears anchor spaceOtherBackground
Sears had announced the closure of its Presque Isle store, leaving a substantial anchor space vacant.
Action taken
The former Sears space was renovated for Harbor Freight Tools.
Aftermath
Harbor Freight Tools became one of the mall’s identified anchor stores by the late 2010s.
2017
Auction and transfer to Wells FargoOtherBackground
The property was scheduled for auction amid ownership and financial pressure affecting the enclosed-mall sector.
Action taken
After no bidder was found, Wells Fargo took control of the mall.
Aftermath
The property changed from ownership by the Sitt brothers to control by Wells Fargo at a reported $4 million transfer value.
Transfer value. $4 million (2017)
2009
Upgrade building energy systemsStrategyBackground
Operating a large enclosed mall requires substantial heating, cooling, and ventilation capacity, particularly in northern Maine’s climate.
Action taken
The mall moved toward more efficient heating, cooling, and ventilation technology.
Aftermath
The upgrade was intended to improve operating efficiency, although specific savings figures are not available in the reference material.
Recent events
- 2026
Bath & Body Works reportedly departs[1]
Other
Bath & Body Works reportedly closed in January 2026, leaving the mall without its last national inline tenant according to the supplied reference material.
- 2025
Ruby Tuesday closes at Aroostook Centre Mall[1]
Other
Ruby Tuesday reportedly closed its mall location in early November 2025.
- 2017
Former Sears space prepared for Harbor Freight Tools[1]
Product launch
The former Sears location was being renovated for Harbor Freight Tools, which became a major tenant at the mall.
- 2017
Mall auction produces no bidder and Wells Fargo takes control[1]
Bankruptcy
After an auction was scheduled in October, no bidder emerged and Wells Fargo took over the property for $4 million.
- 2014
Sears announces closure of Presque Isle store[1]
Other
Sears announced that its Aroostook Centre Mall store would close, contributing to the property’s subsequent anchor-space turnover.
- 2009
Mall upgrades heating, cooling, and ventilation systems[1]
Other
The mall modernized its energy technology by adopting more efficient heating, cooling, and ventilation systems.
- 2001
Aroostook Centre Mall sold to Eddie and Ralph Sitt[1]
M&A
The property was sold in June 2001 for $10 million, a price reported as below half of its appraised value.
- 1993
Aroostook Centre Mall opens in Presque Isle[1]
Other
The enclosed regional shopping mall opened on November 1, 1993.
Sources2 sources
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