PLATTSBURGH — Kohl’s department store is seeking a variance for exterior signs at Champlain Centre mall.

Those signs would advertise a 43,600-square-foot store the retailer is looking to potentially open in there.

A 195-square-foot sign is requested for the front of the store, and one measuring 94 square feet.

Zoning regulations allow for a 111-square-foot sign for the front and only 10-square-feet for the rear, according to Clinton County Senior Planner Glen Cutter.

That request will be before the Clinton County Planning Board at its March 6 meeting.

Cutter said the matter will probably be referred back to the town of Plattsburgh Planning Board as a local matter.

Strong indicators

Town Supervisor Michael Cashman said the municipality has been working closely with Champlain Centre to hopefully seal this deal.

This isn’t the first time there’s been talk of the chain retailer setting up shop in the town of Plattsburgh.

Back in 2011, Kohl’s considered a location in the former Ames Plaza on Route 3 and even received initial approval from the town Planning Board, but that prospect fizzled out.

“While we understand that the agreement may not have been finalized, strong indicators are a demonstration that this is moving forward,” Cashman said of the latest negotiations.

“The town of Plattsburgh is enthusiastically looking to welcome Kohl’s into town,” he continued. “It is the business that has been hoped for by the region for some time.”

Another win

The company, which calls itself family friendly, has more than 1,000 locations across the United States and made around $19 billion in total sales in 2017.

The department store, boasting brands from Nike to KitchenAid, sells apparel, shoes, beauty products, toys, bed and bath, and more.

The closest Kohl’s location is in South Burlington, Vermont, across Lake Champlain.

“There’s still a lot more work to be done,” Cashman said, “but it’s another win for the town and it’s another win for the region.”

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Mall blueprint

Champlain Centre General Manager Lisa Getty couldn’t confirm that Kohl’s intends to locate there but said a big-name tenant is eyeing some 40,000 square feet of mall space.

“Plans are underway in the anticipation that a major retailer will be coming into the end (of the mall) down towards Hobby Lobby,” she said.

The business would combine space formerly filled by both Sears and Borders, as well as the retail spaces now occupied by Senior Planet and Lake City Hobbies.

Cashman said a mall blueprint is being determined at this time.

“In our codes and zoning departments, we are currently reviewing some of the items for demolition,” he said. “The mall is making significant progress to update its facilities to bring about a new retail space.”

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Moving tenants

Getty said Senior Planet is staying at Champlain Centre.

“They’re relocating to another space,” she said. “They are taking the former Things Remembered space.”

But plans haven’t been solidified for Lake City Hobbies just yet.

On Tuesday, Feb. 19, that business — which features a track that allows customers to race their own and/or rented radio-control vehicles — announced via Facebook they would be leaving their mall space to make way for a major retailer.

“Temporarily, we will maintain a smaller presence in the mall at another space,” the post says. “The big track will not be in operation, and we are to determine if the rentals will still be offered.

“Please know we are not closing, just keeping the shop open until a large enough venue is found.”

Champlain Centre is in discussions with owner Greg Nephew about that, Getty said.

“We don’t have enough space at this point to match the space that he has, but we are hoping to work with him on a smaller space that could still serve the needs for him and his customers to buy their supplies and so forth,” she said. “He is a great tenant.”

Asked to comment, Kohl’s responded, via email, with: “We do not have any information to share at this time.”

Press-Republican Staff Writer Joe LoTemplio contributed to this report.