MASSENA - If all goes according to plan, Dick’s Sporting Goods could be opening its doors at the St. Lawrence Centre mall sometime in the near future.

“They’re talking and it’s looking good,” said St. Lawrence Centre Marketing Manager Ronald J. Patnode. “But there isn’t a deal at this time.”

Mr. Patnode noted negotiations aren’t something that are handled at the local level and are done through the mall’s leasing group, Spinosa Realty.

While the rumor of a Dick’s coming to Massena has been circulating for months, Mr. Patnode said no deal has been finalized at this point. “Until we have a signed agreement, we can’t make any official announcement,” he said.

If an agreement is signed, Mr. Patnode said it’s his understanding that Dick’s would occupy the former TJ Maxx space.

“It would be expanded. The space they’re looking for is larger than TJ Maxx,” he said. “To accommodate them, we would extend out to the mall’s common area.”

He also added an exterior entrance would be built prior to the store opening.

“We’re as excited and anxious as anyone to want to see this come to fruition,” he said.

Another rumored potential tenant for the mall is Kohl’s, and Mr. Patnode confirmed that mall officials are talking to that retailer as well.

“Kohl’s is one of a few other national retailers that the mall is courting,” he said, adding at this point the mall is simply talking to them, explaining he wouldn’t classify the talks with Kohl’s or any other retailer aside from Dick’s as negotiations just yet.

Retailers in the mall said they’ve heard the rumors and are hoping they’re true.

“It would be nothing but positive news,” according to Fred Englert, who co-owns Sherry and Fred’s Newsstand. “Anything to increase foot traffic is good and they’re (Dick’s) the perfect fit for this mall.”

Linda Dalton owns and operates The Mustard Tin and said she thinks a store the caliber of Dick’s coming to the mall would be good news for everyone.

“It would bring more people in,” she said, adding she thinks traffic from Canadian and American shoppers would increase. “Right now people drive to Watertown or Plattsburgh to go to Dick’s.”

Ms. Dalton also said she thinks the store could provide a boost to the entire mall and lead to more stores coming as well.

“Hopefully it would bring some more stores to the mall too,” she said.

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