Two more retailers leaving Sunrise Mall, amid talk of more to follow

By Mike Hazlip—
After decades in business, two more chain retail stores are making the 2023 shopping season their last at Sunrise Mall.

Workers at Zumiez were seen carrying out boxes of merchandise the day after Christmas, and a sign posted to the front entrance gate read: “Thank you for 25 years at Sunrise Mall.”

An employee at the location, who could not be identified because they were not authorized to speak to the media, said the store had not been planning to renew its lease in 2024, but recent flooding that damaged merchandise was a factor in the decision to leave sooner. The employee also said a lack of plans to find a tenant to take over the former Sears building contributed to the decision.

Related: Sunrise Mall store reopens, again, after damage from water leaks

The Sentinel previously reported Zumiez was closed for several weeks following a rain storm in late October. A leak following the rains damaged merchandise at Zumiez and water extended into neighboring Hallmark, according to the report.

A spokesman for the mall’s management company, Mason Asset Management, previously told The Sentinel the leak stemmed from a clogged roof drain and an improperly sealed HVAC curb. The issue was repaired, the spokesman said.

A second retailer at the mall is also planning to close, with an employee at Champs confirming the location is slated to close at the end of January. Clearance signs are up at the location and empty shelves line the walls as customers pick through the last of the merchandise.

The employee said workers were not given a specific reason for the closure, but the location has faced dwindling sales and rising theft.

Related: What’s going on with the plan to redevelop Sunrise Mall?