Stores Still Competing for Borders Site

Several retailers are still interested in moving into the former Borders site in Strongsville, but a lease has not been signed, a broker for the plaza said.

Harvey Kay of Kay Brokerage & Consulting said the negotiations continue.

"We haven't decided on anyone yet," Kay said.

He said he does not expect to sign a lease for another 60 to 90 days.

But he said interest is still high in the former bookstore on Royalton Road.

Last August, Earth Fare announced it had signed a lease for the vacant 27,000-square-foot Borders store.

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.

Kay said in January that Earth Fare was still interested, but so were three other national retailers.

Borders went out of business in 2011. The Strongsville store closed in September of that year.

Economic Development Director Brent Painter said in January that 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.