A change of ownership at the Borders Plaza has led to a renewed leasing effort for the former bookstore -- and Earth Fare, the grocery store that announced last year it was moving in, is still interrested.
Harvey Kay of Kay Brokerage & Consulting said he is "still in negotiations with Earth Fare" for the former Borders site.
But it's not the only store looking at the plaza.
"There are three national companies that are interested," Kay said.
He said he could not name the other retailers negotiating for the site.
Earth Fare announced last August it had signed a lease to take over the 27,000-square-foot anchor store formerly occupied by Borders.
But a few weeks later, U.S. Bank filed a foreclosure action in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court against the owner of the shopping center.
The foreclosure appeared to impact the deal with the North Carolina-based Earth Fare, which calls itself a healthy supermarket.
The company did not submit any renovation plans, and Earth Fare officials have not returned calls and e-mails from Strongsville Patch or from Strongsville officials.
Borders went out of business in 2011. The Strongsville store closed in September of that year.
Economic Development Director Brent Painter said the year-long vacancy has more to do with the owner's legal problems than with finding a tenant.
"I think the issue was more wth the ownership of the building," Painter said. "There's always been interest in the site."
Earth Fare operates 28 stores in eight states -- including Fairview Park and Fairlawn -- and offers natural foods like local and organic fruits and vegetables. The store also has a full-service meat, poultry and fish department.
It does not carry any items containing high-fructose corn syrup, trans fats, artificial colors and sweeteners, or synthetic growth hormones in meat and milk.
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But we don't know who the others are. They might be Trader Joes, Mustard Seed or Whole Foods - same thing, but a different type store than what we have. I'd like another bookstore.
Earth Fare has 28 stores in 8 states; out of North Carolina. Of the 2, I prefer Mustard Seed and that's because the items I buy are cheaper there, I like the store better and its locally owned - and buying more locally grown/made products for sale. But, I only buy 1 or 2 things at these type stores because I can't find what I want any place else and I can buy other food I need cheaper at a regular grocer. Just give me Giant Eagle - their prices are much more reasonable. And they do sell some organic if you want it, cheaper. Once their new store is open you probably will have an even bigger selection.
Your comment " just as I'm pretty sure they aren't going to put a book store into the same spot one went out of" is incorrect, to say the least. Borders left that spot because the company, not our local store, made bad management decisions and did not keep up with changes in peoples lives as it pertains to how they use books and technology - unlike Barnes & Noble. Just read any articles or financial analyst articles on Borders. I wish our city leaders would try to encourage Barnes and Noble or Books A Million to locate here. Borders always seemed to do a better than good brick and mortar business here, and with our mall, I would think another bookstore should also do well.