The search is over at last.
Three years ago, the departure of a Navy contractor – hit hard by an era of military downsizing — left a gaping vacancy at Kitsap Place. Ever since, the search has been on for a large anchor that could breathe new life into the aging strip mall.

“That vacancy required us to say, okay, what are we going to do to fill up that space,” noted mall manager Dan Englehard, who also manages Kitsap Mall.

So it was with much excitement that Englehard recently announced the pending arrival of Michael’s Arts and Crafts, a popular nationwide hobby and handicraft store. Michael’s signed a long-term lease to occupy not only the office space in the back of Kitsap Place, which had been leased by the contractor, but also additional space in the front, which has been rented out to a variety of small retailers.

Accommodating a store as large as Michael’s, of course, called for some adjustments, and Kitsap Place was more than happy to comply. To make way, Ace Vacuum had to be relocated to another part of the center. The owners of Goldberg Jewelers’ retired and closed their shop, and a travel agency went out of business in the wake of Sept. 11. That left two shops vacant. A Western store that was also in the way has moved down the street.

Demolition work is expected to begin soon on the wing of the shopping center that is to be occupied by the new, 21,300-square-foot Michael’s store.

“They’re making a huge investment, and we’re making a huge investment,” said Englehard. “We’re very excited to have them be a part of this project. We’ve been working with them for a long time.”

According to Englehard, it hasn’t taken very long for Michael’s to prove its worth as an anchor.

“We’re already getting a lot of interest on the remaining space,” he said. “There’s about 20,000 square feet left, but some of it is in the back corner, so we don’t expect someone to take all of that space. The back corner is not very good retail space.”

That corner might be converted to a less visible use, such as a warehouse.

But shoppers will have to wait a few months before they can start buying their arts and crafts supplies at the new Michael’s.

Predicted Englehard: “We’re hoping they’ll be open for business in March of next year.”.