A New Hampshire-based developer is planning to convert the former Sears store at the Mall at Greece Ridge Center into a self-storage facility.
True Storage, LLC, specializes in conversion of existing big-box stores into self-storage facilities managed by third-party operators such as Cube Smart, National Storage and Store Space.
The company is seeking from the town of Greece Planning Board approval to convert the 125,000 square feet of space in the former Sears store. Utility and landscaping upgrades are part of the proposal, according to town of Greece Planning Board minutes of Feb. 21
Review of plans has been pushed back twice by the planning board and discussion is now set for the March 6 meeting.
During 2023, the creation of nine new self-storage facilities by True Storage included the repurposing a Walmart, Kmart, Dick’s Sporting Goods and aShopKo. The facilities were in Enfield, Conn.; Columbus, Ga.; Methuen, Mass.; Frenchtown and Flint, Mich; Akron, Ohio; Providence, R.I.; Fort Atkinson, Wisc.; and Conyers, Ga.
If approved by the town of Greece, this will be the first development by True Storage in Rochester.
The Sears property is owned by SGRC, LLC, an affiliate of mall owner Wilmorite Management Group, LLC. Wilmorite bought the building at auction in June for $2,008,500. Following the winning bid, Wilmorite said the purchase was made to maintain oversight on building use.
When malls opened, the operator typically owned all property except the anchor stores. Since many anchor retailers have gone out of business or downsized — for example, Lord & Taylor, JCPenney, Dillard’s, Macy’s and Sears — many mall operators, including Wilmorite, have incorporated the anchor space into their own portfolio.
The Sears store opened in 1967 as the anchor tenant at the northwest corner of the mall. But the store was among the mass closings in July of 2018 when Sears reduced its retail footprint before filing for bankruptcy later that year.
True Storage did not respond to a request for comment.
