Filling Gottschalks’ Shoes

A month-and-a-half after Gottschalks closed its doors, Juneau shoppers are still wondering about what will fill its 32-thousand-square-foot shoes in the Mendenhall Mall.

Gottschalks, Inc. filed for bankruptcy in mid-January. In June, Macy’s and Forever 21 bought or took over the leases of a number of locations nationwide. As soon as the company knew it was going under, the Juneau Gottschalks terminated its month-to-month lease. So the space remains empty.

But if and when a new business does move in, what would it take for it to succeed in the Capital City, in the current economy? Rebecca Sheir set out to find out.