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Small Business Growth Continues at Town and Country
This article was in Thursday’s (February 15th, 2018) Herald and News
Written By: Sean Bassinger, H&N Staff Reporter
In just the winter months alone, two new businesses have popped up along a South Sixth Street plaza in Klamath Falls, in addition to three others that may follow suit.
Owners at Cumberland Holdings, a California-based investment firm, visited Klamath Falls Wednesday afternoon to offer updates and check in on two newer businesses in the Town and Country Shopping Center, El Rodeo and Mondo’s Outlet, that recently opened shop. Cumberland Holdings first bought the more than 113,000-square-foot site for $2.4 million in September 2013 from a Florida-based outlet that had less success with the area.
Since then, Cumberland Holdings has remodeled suites at 3810 S. Sixth St., worked to expand the adjacent Big Lots! store and entered into a 17,000 square-foot space lease with Harbor Freight. Built in 1965, owners say that Town and Country’s age started to show before they renovated the properties.
Scott Chernoff, principal at Cumberland Holdings, said the center’s occupancy rate was 45 percent when they first arrived. Today, they’re closer to 75 percent.
“The parking lots are close to full now versus empty,” Chernoff said. “Before, people would just be coming for Big Lots.”
New businesses
Right now, Cumberland Holdings is also working to see if they can get an anchor business for the center-most building on the lot, which could be anything ranging from grocers to general department stores.
Chernoff could not comment on names of other tenants coming in, but said they were in talks with three businesses that expressed interest in the plaza. At least two of them would move in from other locations in the Klamath Falls area.
During talks on agreements, Chernoff said he and his peers want tenants to make sure they’re satisfied with their move into the center.
“When we sign a new lease we really want them to be successful,” Chernoff said.
The center’s newest tenants seem pleased so far.
El Rodeo, a Mexican restaurant and steakhouse with an American twist, held a grand opening Feb. 1. Since then, staff say they continue to see people pour in to try it out. The restaurant may look into expansion options as time progresses.
“They believe in us and they help us,” Rigoberto Hernandez, co-owner and chef at El Rodeo said of the property managers.
Kat Cassidy-Mondale, co-owner at Mondo’s Outlet, actually worked at Harbor Freight across the way before starting her new store at Mondo’s. Though they have not had as much traffic as the holiday season, Cassidy-Mondale said customers continue to check in on the overstock goods they sell. Mondo’s Outlet may also see expansions in the near future.
“All in all we’re quite happy,” Cassidy-Mondale said.
Business activity
Klamath Falls had several local business gains noted toward the end of 2017, including several new stores showing up in the downtown area and new fast stop eatery options and food trucks.
Two larger chains, including Holiday Market and Dollar General, have also set their sights on Klamath Falls, though conversations with Dollar General have been on and off for several years.
Chernoff said he’s confident growth could continue at their own site.
“Activity breeds activity,” Chernoff said. “With every new lease and every new tenant, it seems like the next one is a little bit easier to find.”
