| Sometime next year, Town Square Port Orchard - formerly South Kitsap Mall on Mile Hill Drive will look quite different. The owners of the mall are planning to start a renovation project sometime in February.
The property was purchased in January from Glynis Gehring, wife of the late “Buck” Gehring, who built the mall in the mid-1970s, by Larry and Grace Li. They renamed the mall shortly after, after getting requests from tenants, Grace Li said. The change helped avoid confusion with the Kitsap Mall in Silverdale, she said.
After purchasing the property, they “discovered the mall needs upgrades,” Li said. They have already made changes to the inside, including new paint and light fixtures along with bathroom improvements.
The renovation project will include a 16,000-foot expansion with a glass front, better wheelchair access, and the addition of an elevator. Li said the addition would add space for another 12 to 20 stores. Currently, there are more than 30 tenants in the building, including Scott McLendon's Ace Hardware and Rose Crafts.
“We hope to bring in more variety of shops and restaurants,” Li said.
Bainbridge Island architect Miles Yanick + Company was hired for the project, and plans were expected to be finalized at the end of the year. If things proceed on schedule, the expansion could be finished by next summer. |
