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No new tenant yet for Staples building

Matt Stensland

— There has been activity at the old Staples location this week, but a new tenant hasn’t been lined up.

Loui Antonucci, the store’s landlord, said Tuesday that work is being done to prepare the building for a new tenant. Drywall is being repaired, holes in the stucco were patched and some sections of sidewalk are being replaced.

Staples, which opened in late 2006, closed its door this past May after the company announced it planned to close 225 North American stores by 2015.



Antonucci said that when Staples left, it still had two years on its lease. He said Staples has hired a leasing agent in Denver to find someone to take over the lease for at least the remainder of the term.

“The leasing agents came up here and looked at it,” Antonucci said.



Antonucci said whoever takes over the space likely would want more than a two-year lease, and he then would be part of the lease negotiations.

Antonucci was not sure what sort of business might be interested in taking the space across from Walgreens at Pine Grove Road and Mid Valley Drive.

“Honestly, the town needed Staples or someone like them,” Antonucci said.

Antonucci said he does not think a restaurant would find the space desirable.

“I think the building is too big,” Antonucci said. “It’s 15,000 square feet. It’s got a lot of parking. That’s the great thing.”

Antonucci said it is a unique property because it would be difficult to get approval to build such a large building on that side of town.

“It’s kind of a diamond in the rough,” Antonucci said.

Antonucci said he thinks the space is too small for an REI, but there was one business he thought always would work there.

“I always thought it would be a great Trader Joe’s, even before Staples went in there,” Antonucci said.

Antonucci said he thought similar commercial space would rent for between $16 and $20 per square foot. For 15,000 square feet, that is between $240,000 and $300,000 annually.

To reach Matt Stensland, call 970-871-4247, email mstensland@SteamboatToday.com or follow him on Twitter @SBTStensland


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