By Jenna Bagcal
Yet another store in the Douglaston Plaza Shopping Center is closing its doors.
Modell’s Sporting Goods, located in the open-air mall at 242-02 61st Ave. in Douglaston, will be going out of business by January 2019, according to a current employee.
A shopper first reported the news on the Bayside, Queens Facebook page and snapped a photo of the storefront’s “store closing sale” sign.
The sporting goods retailer suffered the same fate as Toys ‘R’ Us, MovieWorld and Macy’s, which were all located in the same complex.
Earlier this year, it was reported that the family-owned theater and department store would be replaced by a Lowe’s Home Improvement store, though it is uncertain when that is set to happen.
The big box store announced recently that it would close 47 stores in the U.S. and Canada that have been deemed unprofitable, according to CNN.
Plans for the Lowe’s emerged in January 2017, with rumors circulating that the home improvement store would be moving into the mall. Residents started a petition in response to rumors in order to save the beloved movie theater but were not able to acquire the 1,500 signature goal at the time.
In February 2018, Community Board 11 approved a variance to enlarge the shopping center’s main building to just over 15,000 square feet.
Ashkenazy Acquisition Corporation (AAC) are the owners of the 300,000 square foot shopping center, which currently houses Fairway Supermarket, Burger King and Sprint. There is no word yet about plans to replace the Modell’s once it closes in January.
AAC and Modell’s did not immediately respond to a request to comment.
