Herbergers Grand Re-opening

The Herberger’s department store in the Kalispell Center Mall last week re-opened its doors, showcasing the results of its $4.5 million new build and remodel. The enhancements offer more room to shop for an enhanced array of blankets, boots, britches and baubles in one of the mall’s retail anchor stores. 

Herberger’s, part of The Bon-Ton Department Stores, has expanded its Kalispell department store from 40,000 square feet to 80,000 square feet and consolidated its second 14,000-square-foot store space into the newly expanded space created through new construction to the west of the current site into the parking lot. 

The other Montana Herberger’s stores are found in Missoula, Great Falls, Havre, Butte and Billings. The Billings store has roughly a 60,000-square-foot space in Rimrock Mall, while the Butte Plaza Mall store measures in at 65,000 square feet. 

Being one of the first tenants at Kalispell Center Mall, which opened in 1986, Herberger’s also signed new long-term lease when announcing its store’s expansion plans. The Mall is owned by Goodale & Barbieri Company, which is based in Spokane. 

Kalispell’s mall manager, Eric Peterson, said, “The other tenants are really excited to have this happen and have that type of [financial] commitment from an anchor tenant. …They are sticking around. They want to do well for the community and put out a good product.” 

Peterson said other tenants are also taking notice. “We’ve already had a good amount of interest from current tenants looking to remodel or expand.” 

Yet, even during its grand re-opening week, Herberger’s was still relocating a final batch of its products sold in its existing 14,000 square feet of auxiliary retail space that they have leased for the past 31 years. Peterson said that in a few months, when that space is fully vacated, it will go on the market for another tenant. 

“Its’ very exciting for myself as a mall manager and for our mall ownership. . . We try to work really hard to be a place where people can come. …To shop and for our community events,” he added. 

Peterson is pleased with the look of the new store and how the entire construction project progressed since breaking ground in summer, 2016. “Gosh, it’s really a beautiful store.  Herberger’s did a great job with the space and their [additional] offerings. It presents a lot better,” Peterson said. 

Louise Adamson, a Kalispell construction professional deeply involved in the store’s remake agrees with Peterson. She said, “It’s go to be much fresher and brighter, from aisles to the changing rooms, which are much larger. There are wider walkways and much  better lighting. And, the interior décor is great.”  

From beginning to end, Adamson served as project manager for Swank Enterprises, the Kalispell-based construction firm that oversaw the entire process.  

Adamson said the project did see a few weather-related bumps along the way. “We had a harsh winter, and the condition of the existing soil was poor,” she said, adding, “That, alone, required hiring a subcontractor to complete the safe removal and replacement of 250 tons (1,500 cubic yards) of soil.”  

The winter weather also forced construction adjustments later on. “It was extremely cold putting in the slab and foundation. We lost time, but we were able to make up that time and deliver the project on time,” Adamson said. 

Swank had 12 employees regularly working at the site or in their Kalispell offices, while various subcontractors also added to the number of workers on hand. 

“I was really happy on this project because we used a group of contractors we use all the time… because of the quality of their work,” Adamson added.  

Another hiccup was that while remodeling, the building’s north side had to have full access to the south side of the store. “Our workers and other staff had to constantly reroute shoppers. It was friendly, and everyone was pretty good with it. …The staff was very patient. 

“It’s always nice to see a project completed. And this project has been so well received,” Adamson added. 

From the mall’s standpoint, they saw little effect on daily shoppers. Peterson said, “Because it took place on the far west side of Herberger’s, it didn’t really affect the rest of the tenants; they all stayed open. Now, they are seeing more traffic.” 

Some mall customers ask why the store expanded horizontally into the parking lot, instead of moving vertically by adding a second story. Both Peterson and Adamson give the same answer, with the mall manager summarizing, “Typically in the retail environment, you don’t see as many [additional] sales if you build upward. Building outward, construction costs are less.” 

The mall follows national retail business trends and Peterson said Kalispell Center Mall is here to stay, even amid changing consumer habits of increasing use of online stores like Amazon.  

But, Peterson said the Herberger’s growth in Kalispell shows that it is one large retailer sticking with existing strategy and even adding new product lines to meet more customer demands.