HAZLE TOWNSHIP -- If you walk around the Laurel Mall near Hazleton, you've probably noticed there's several empty stores.
The biggest empty space is the spot of the former JCPenney store that moved out last spring. After a year of sitting empty, Dunham's Sports will be moving in.
"We're just really happy that within a year we were able to find another tenant to fill it. I think it's going to be a great fit for the Laurel Mall and for the community," Laurel Mall General Manager Ammee Reusing said.
Right now, Anthony Biacco and Arthur Fuehrer have to go out of the area to shop for sporting goods. They say a Dunham's here is a big deal.
"I shop for a lot of fishing and hunting stuff and clothes, you know. They've got a good variety, you know. With a discount of course," Biacco said
"I go to Cabella's which is about an hour's drive from home so this will be more convenient for sure," Fuehrer said.
A few stores down from where Dunham's is going is Cigar Box. Employee Carol Bartletta says it'll be nice to have more foot traffic on this end of the mall.
"I think it's great. It's great for business. It's great for the mall," Barletta said.
Right now, the Laurel Mall has a few empty stores. Mall officials say once Dunham's moves in, it will be about 85 percent full.
"We're working hard every day to try and fill the vacant spaces. I expect probably within the next 90 days we may have some more good news coming," Reusing said.
Mall officials tell Newswatch 16 Dunham's plans to hire about 50 employees.
The store in Hazle Township is expected to open in October.
