VIP now open at the mall
By Julia Bayly
BDN Staff
PRESQUE ISLE — After watching two of its major leaseholders move out, officials at the Aroostook Centre Mall were happy to learn this month that a local business will fill some of that empty space.
Staff photo/Scott Mitchell Johnson
TONY BOUCHER, general manager of VIP Tires & Service, stocked tires last Thursday in advance of Sunday’s official opening at the company’s new location at the Aroostook Centre Mall. VIP has moved into the site of the former Sears Auto Center. Officials say the move will double the size of its former location, which will allow crews to service more vehicles at one time.
VIP Tires & Service has moved from its Main Street location to the former Sears Auto Center at the mall and opened Sunday, Feb. 1.
“We are very excited about this move,” John Quirk, president of Lewiston-based VIP, said Wednesday. “The people that work and live [in Aroostook County] are phenomenal, and their character and resilience are amazing.”
Quirk would not comment on specifics but said the company has spent “six figures” in renovating and sprucing up the mall location in preparation for the opening.
With 9,200 square feet, the new location doubles the 4,200 square feet the Presque Isle VIP store has on Main Street.
“I’ve had a crew in there for the last 30 days,” Quirk said. “We renovated with a new showroom and customer waiting area, painted everything and redesigned tire storage for 3,500 tires.”
This is not the first Sears-VIP connection in Presque Isle.
In October, after Sears announced plans to pull out of the mall, VIP hired five employees from the Sears Auto Center.
“We hired the [Sears Auto Center] manager, who had been there 18 years; the assistant manager, who had been there seven years; and master technicians with 10 years experience,” Quirk said. “These are very experienced people. And between our staff and this new facility, we are well able to serve our customers.”
The move was prompted by the availability of the space and the fact VIP had outgrown its current location and available customer parking, Quirk said.
The move will not leave an empty storefront on Main Street, he said. Neighboring business O’Reilly Auto Parts will expand into and lease the VIP-owned space.
“Moves like this are success stories,” Martin Puckett, Presque Isle deputy city manager, said Wednesday.
“There is no doubt there was a need for VIP to have more space. Their lots and bays are always full, [and] it’s nice to see them move into that empty space and keep drawing business to the area.”
Patti Crooks, Aroostook Centre Mall manager, said Wednesday it is good to see a business coming into the mall.
In addition to Sears, over the last two months Staples, The Maine Jump and Deb Shops announced plans to pull out of the 525,000-square-foot mall. But Crooks remains upbeat.
“We are deep into reconfiguring and revitalizing things here,” she said. “This is an industry that moves slowly, but we are excited about the long term [and] this is a nice piece of real estate.”
Seeing a Maine-owned business taking over space occupied by a national retailer is very good news, Crooks said.
“Sears did a heck of a job. But to be able to replace them with something bigger, better and local makes it really exciting,” she said. “We are thankful to have them.”
VIP will honor all Sears auto warranties on parts and tires, Quirk said.
“People can rest assured we will take care of them,” he said. “We have great relationships with our customers, [and] people buy service from people they trust. We are in the relationship business.”
VIP’s last day at its Main Street location was Saturday, Jan. 31.
