Ownership of the Bonner Mall in Ponderay changed hands over the summer in an off-market deal from longtime proprietors Bonner Mall Partnership, operated by the Magnuson family as majority owner, to Bonner Mall, LLC, led by Dave Black and Chris Bell, of Spokane-based commercial real estate agency NAI Black. According to Bell, the next steps for the group include boosting current tenants’ sales, attracting new businesses and diversifying the 195,800-square-foot shopping center’s uses.
“This is a region with incredible momentum, and we’re committed to being good stewards of Bonner Mall for the long term,” Bell told the Reader. “Our goal is to work hand-in-hand with tenants, the city and the broader community to ensure Bonner Mall remains a place people want to shop, connect and spend time for years to come.”
The shopping center has seen its ups and downs over the years, with past renovations isolating individual businesses from the building’s former shared hallways. Regardless, the mall maintains 78% occupancy, including anchors such as Yoke’s, Sandpoint Cinemas and Petco. Bell said the new owners intend to fill out the property with additional businesses while improving flow to create a more cohesive shopping experience.
A rendering showing potential improvements to the Bonner Mall. Courtesy image
“We’re focused on making the property more inviting through improved signage, better use of shared spaces, and fostering a welcoming environment for both national retailers and local entrepreneurs,” said Bell. “We’re in early discussions with several potential tenants, including a couple of exciting new-to-market concepts we aren’t allowed to announce yet, and we’re optimistic about new leasing momentum as we refine our long-term strategy.”
In an age of online shopping, Bell said that a staple like Bonner Mall is still vital to the community. The group’s plans to improve the 15-acre parcel go hand in hand with Ponderay’s Comprehensive Plan, adopted in August, which prioritizes small businesses, pedestrian and bike-friendly routes and the development of community gathering spaces.
Bonner Mall featured prominently in Comp Plan discussions, according to Senior Project Manager Aaron Qualls of SCJ Alliance, who consulted with Ponderay while updating the plan.
“The plan’s engagement process yielded a strong desire for Ponderay to further its identity through placemaking enhancements and so-called ‘third places’ — which are those informal places that people gather outside of work and home life,” said Qualls. “They are typically small, locally oriented businesses, institutions or other gathering spots that are also typically pedestrian oriented. The Bonner Mall emerged as an opportunity for the potential creation of an authentic downtown experience for Ponderay residents and visitors.”
Qualls pointed to the mall’s central location — within walking distance of old and new subdivisions and the continued development of the Pend d’Oreille Bay Trail — and its spacious lot as two factors that make Bonner Mall a popular spot for Ponderay’s future downtown. Meanwhile, Ponderay is continuing efforts to develop the surrounding community, with voters passing a 1% local option sales tax in the Nov. 4 election, which will expand and establish a maintenance endowment fund for the Field of Dreams sports center, improve streets with additional bike trails and sidewalks, and build a railroad underpass to Lake Pend Oreille, giving residents direct access to what the city has dubbed its “Front Yard.”
“Redevelopment of unused parking by the movie theater, for example, may present an opportunity for small business prosperity, an increase in the city’s tax base and a greater sense of identity and place of connection for the growing community of Ponderay,” said Qualls.
Though SCJ Alliance is not currently working with Bonner Mall, LLC, Qualls said that he’s open to partnering with the group to help align the mall’s future projects with Ponderay’s vision.
“Partnering with the city of Ponderay is a core part of our vision,” said Bell. “As we continue to evaluate the property, we look forward to aligning with the city’s Comprehensive Plan and contributing to its broader goals for sustainable growth, economic vitality and community development. Collaboration will be key to ensuring Bonner Mall continues to thrive alongside the community it serves.”
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