The Bradford Mall has been purchased and the new owners are in the process of revitalizing the space and bringing in new tenants.
MBC Properties, the Real Estate Division of Miller Brothers Co. of Schuylkill Haven, bought the property on Oct. 31 from Brixmor Property Group Inc.
MBC Development partner Jim Miller Sr. and director of development Pat Higgins talked to The Era about the purchase this week.
“The opportunity was presented to us from a local broker that we have a relationship with,” Higgins said. “We evaluated the market and we thought we could turn things around and renovate the space and make it proud again.
“We’re going to go in and, hopefully by cleaning it up, find some tenants.”
Miller said they are currently dealing with about three or four potential tenants.
“We actually had activity pretty much immediately,” Miller said. “We’re talking to several interested parties.”
Higgins said after assessing the property, the company will be doing some general maintenance and revitalization of the space.
“We are interested in doing some work and getting it into better shape to generate some interest there,” Higgins said. “We see it as having a lot of potential.”
As to the kind of tenants they seek to attract, both men said they are open to any variety, including retail and office uses. “We will consider them all,” Higgins said.
The structure is more than 50 years old and has been for sale for years.
Included in the purchase were the out-parcels housing a Northwest Savings Bank location and the Turn N Burn Cafe.
The Kmart parcel is being sold separately, officials said. Miller Brothers has not bought it yet, but they are trying to, according to a spokesperson with the company.
This is the first mall the company has purchased, Miller said, adding the company owns smaller strip malls and numerous stand-alone, single-user retail sites as well as office buildings across Pennsylvania and in six other states.
Miller said this is the company’s first purchase in northwestern Pennsylvania.
“We just recently joined the Bradford Chamber of Commerce,” Higgins noted. “Every one there has been extremely helpful and cooperative, and we’re looking forward to being a good neighbor up there for some time to come.”
Among the tenants already located in the mall are Tractor Supply, the Dollar Tree, Big Lots, Verizon, Label Shopper and Peebles. The mall is located at one of the busiest sections of the Tuna Valley along East Main Street in Foster Township.
