Cambridge Centre braces for another blow, as Sears liquidation sales set to begin

The ‘Everything Must Go’ sign is set to go up outside the Sears outlet at the Cambridge Centre.

Liquidation sales begin Friday at the 59 Sears stores set for closure. But once sales are complete, the shopping centre will be left with no obvious new tenants — again.

The closing of Sears will create a second big hole in the Cambridge Centre mall, where the former Target store still sits empty, after that retailed moved out of Canada more than two years ago.

Cambridge Councillor Nicholas Ermeta says the retail apocalypse has some local shoppers worried about the future of Cambridge Centre.

“A number of my constituents have raised concerns about the mall. I’ve been talking with them about what they’d like to see,” Ermeta says. “I also talk to Morguard (the mall’s owner) on a regular basis, so I’m going to be hearing what their plans are and hopefully they’ll come forward with the announcement eventually.”

While that’s two big mountains the Cambridge Centre is facing, Cambridge Councillor Mike Mann thinks mall management is in a good position to climb them.

“I was aware of somebody looking at Target. I’m not sure where that is anymore, but I think there will be others who are interested,” he says. “I think because of the commitment the citizens of Cambridge have to the mall, something will come of this.”

Cambridge Mayor Doug Craig agrees.

“I’m aware of all kinds of plans (for the space),” he says. “But I can’t tell you.”