Here’s Why Sears at the Maine Mall Has Remained Vacant For Years

If you've visited the Maine Mall in South Portland recently, you'll notice something that the mall has been after for a while now: little to no vacancy. Many malls across the country struggle with vacancy or have closed outright, but the Maine Mall has worked hard to continue to offer great food and retail options for customers.

That being said, there is one thing that stands out when looking at the Maine Mall: the defunct Sears end cap store that went out of the business several years ago. While everything else in the Maine Mall has filled up, why does the Sears remain empty?

Sears Had a Unique Plan When Opening Stores Across the Country

The reason is because Sears was one of the few companies nationwide that opted to buy the property a Sears store was built on versus lease it. Most major retailers prefer leases so that landlords are required to oversee repairs, safety or maintenance work, but Sears was different.

Sears Didn't Count on Bankruptcy

Even the best laid plans can have flaws, so when Sears began shuttering properties across the country years ago, questions swirled about how their property holdings would be handled through bankruptcy. So far, a clear answer hasn't been found. The Sears property as Maine Mall end cap space is a prime example.

It's Not Just Sears That Has Been Affected at the Maine Mall

Additionally, Sears owns a portion of the parking lot as well as the closed On the Border restaurant building. If you've been wondering why that hasn't been filled by another restaurant, it's because there's no landlord to answer to.

Eventually, the Sears property at the Maine Mall will be sold or leased long term. It's listed as available for lease right now. Whether or not it become a permanent part of the mall again or developed into something else like apartments is anyone's guess.

For now, it will remain a remnant of the past.