New Business Governor's Square Shopping Center - WSFA.com: News Weather and Sports for Montgomery, AL.

Governor's Square Shopping Center owners hope to fill these blank name slots very soon.

"The residents haven't moved. They're still here. They still need clothes. They still need food," Phillips Edison & Company Senior Property Manager Travis Black said.

But over the years, businesses have come and gone.

"It's good to see the businesses coming back here," Montgomery resident Carolyn Williams said.

Phillips Edison and Company acquired the property in 2002 and since revived this under-performing shopping center.

"We've been fortunate enough to be able to add some of the national retail stores back to the center," Black said.

Hibbett Sports will open its doors Friday morning at 9. The idea is to bring business back to this area and to also draw attention to the redevelopment of the Old Montgomery Mall.

"As far as the mall it's been really frustrating," Montgomery Mayor Todd Strange

Strange says the shopping center's redevelopment will hopefully attract businesses to the old mall; something the city has been trying to do for years, so far no luck.

"We're now trying to think outside the box. You know maybe we can the big box and tear the rest of it down," Strange said.

With nearly 30 businesses and 9 vacancies, managers are looking to fill the square and keep stores here. In December, Dollar Tree and Rimtyme opened. Now the focus is a regional grocery store.

"It's the key to the center to actually get that grocery store anchor that we've been looking for...for years," Black said.

Something frequent Governor's Square shopper Carolyn Williams says is greatly needed.

"That would be great, especially with the neighborhoods here because you have to travel so far to go to the grocery store," Williams said.  

Black says two regional grocery stores have expressed interest in Governor's Square, but he's not at liberty to give any names since no agreement has been reached.

The mayor says plans are still in the works for a fire station and a police sub-station to locate in the Old Montgomery Mall.

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