Plans by Sports Authority to close all stores across the country leave the fate unclear for sites at two major mid-Pinellas redevelopment projects.
Developers of Tri-City Plaza in Largo and the Seminole City Center, formerly the Seminole Mall, both have lease agreements with the sports retailer, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in March and outlined in a recent court filing plans to close its 450-plus stores.
In Largo, a 30,025-square-foot shell complete with Sports Authority’s red arch facade has already been completed at the plaza at U.S. 19 and East Bay Drive. Kimco Realty, the project’s developer, is looking for a tenant to fill the whole space or two tenants to split the building, said Paul Puma, Kimco’s southern region president.
Several businesses have expressed interest in the building, but Sports Authority still has the lease, he said. If another retailer doesn’t step up to take over the sports chain’s lease, it will be released back to Kimco this summer. When it comes to a replacement, Puma said he is open to all retailers, not just sports-related stores.