PRESQUE ISLE — For two decades, shoppers from both sides of the border have gathered in Presque Isle to enjoy what the Aroostook Centre Mall has to offer.
With a number of stores carrying a wide variety of merchandise all under one roof, what better place to spend a few hours looking for your favorite bargain? You can also enjoy dining and cocktails at Ruby Tuesday or a quick soup, sandwich or slice of pizza at Houlton Farms Dairy. Or if you prefer Chinese cuisine, Chopsticks has a wide selection of meals to choose from.
Located at 830 Main St. (U.S. Route 1), the mall is owned by Sitt Asset Management of New York and is managed by Patti Crooks.
“As a mall we provide goods and services to all of Aroostook County and her visitors. The mall is continually evolving to meet the needs of our ever-changing community,” said Crooks.
Crooks said it’s important to focus on the future and what’s happening in Aroostook County and in neighboring New Brunswick.
“Canadians are an intricate part of the mall climate. We have the nicest mall within a 100-mile radius. People come here from Moncton and western Maine to have pictures taken with Santa — with many noting that’s their favorite thing to do year-round, because we have the best Santa,” said Crooks.
The mall manager said much of it has to do with the way of life here.
“It’s a representative feeling of warmth that The County is recognized for,” she said.
The food court and Ruby Tuesday provides a variety-filled dining experience. The stores and kiosks in the mall offer everything from furniture and auto accessories to clothing, jewelry and mountain bikes.
“No matter what a customer is looking for, we have it,” she said.
The mall hosts a variety of activities such as arts and craft shows, karaoke and music festivals and community awareness programs and has held award ceremonies for both the Biathlon and the Jr. Olympics skiing events.
“Our goal is to make sure we provide a clean, pleasant and entertaining environment for our shoppers,” said Crooks. “We offer the best deals and selections possible.”
For seniors, the mall hosts bingo every Tuesday morning. The mall seasonally decorates and welcomes both Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny for photos and fun for kids.
For the younger shoppers, there are train rides, as well as a new business catering to youth.
“The Maine Jump is a great addition to the mall. They provide a friendly, family atmosphere with tons of fun for kids, regardless of the weather outside,” said Crooks.
New stores continue to be added to the mall lineup. The Dollar Tree opened last fall. The Label Shopper is slated to open later this spring.
“Both Dollar Tree and Label Shopper are great additions to our facility. A tight economy means people are watching their dollars carefully. Both stores provide an opportunity to stretch those dollars while getting needed products at bargain prices,” said Crooks.
At the mall, customer service is very important. A staff of about 25 is on hand to help make the shopping experience a pleasant one. Customer service representatives are also called upon for tourist information.
“Customer service is essential to our business. Our job is to provide the community with a friendly, safe and clean environment for everyone to enjoy and shop in,” said Crooks.
“There are a lot of exciting things happening at the mall. The Seamstress continues to do well and business is growing for owner Terry Burtchell. The Rustic Attic has almost outgrown its space. And of course Lowe’s Home Improvement Center is a great compliment to the overall mall shopping experience,” said Crooks.
She noted that several stores are locally-owned — a point she takes pride in.
“We’ve served as an incubator to several businesses, helping new as well as established businesspeople. In addition to The Seamstress and Rustic Attic, Acadia Medical, Card Smart, Trader Joe’s and Maine Jump are all locally-owned and -operated. It’s great being able to help local people establish businesses and to see them prosper,” said Crooks.
Numerous other stores, including anchors Sears, Kmart, JC Penney and Staples, also call the mall home.
“We also now serve as home to the military recruiting office,” said
Outdoor enthusiasts can now head right to the mall using the connector from the ATV/snowmobile trail.
“We get a lot of recreational enthusiasts year-round, whether by ATV or snowmobile. They come to eat and even shop,” she said.
The mall continues to work with area nonprofits and serves as host to many activities, including Boy Scout presentations, informational booths and more. “We’ve helped both large and small charities,” Crooks said.
“We continue to be a partner with SAD 1’s school art show. That continues to be a popular event each year,” added Crooks.
“We try to do as much for as many as we can. We’ve hosted car shows, monster trucks, various entertainers and continue to be committed to supporting the Northern Maine Fair,” Crooks said. “We honored the victims of 9-11 and continue to honor veterans with a special wall. We’ve worked with the Presque Isle Historical Society and the Central Aroostook Humane Society too.”
Crooks said she and her staff take pride in being a part of County life.
“We’re entrenched in the community and take that role seriously. We look forward to many more years of serving the residents of Presque Isle and surrounding communities and will work to continue to promote business and community development,” said Crooks.
More is planned for later this year, when the mall officially marks its 20th birthday.
“We have a number of things in the works for later in the year. It’ll be great, with lots of fun activities and specials, so be sure to watch for more details,” said Crooks.
For information, contact 764-2616 or e-mail management@aroostookcentremall.com, visit www.aroostookcentremall.com or look for the Aroostook Centre Mall on Facebook.
Located at 830 Main St. (U.S. Route 1), the mall is owned by Sitt Asset Management of New York and is managed by Patti Crooks.
“As a mall we provide goods and services to all of Aroostook County and her visitors. The mall is continually evolving to meet the needs of our ever-changing community,” said Crooks.
Crooks said it’s important to focus on the future and what’s happening in Aroostook County and in neighboring New Brunswick.
“Canadians are an intricate part of the mall climate. We have the nicest mall within a 100-mile radius. People come here from Moncton and western Maine to have pictures taken with Santa — with many noting that’s their favorite thing to do year-round, because we have the best Santa,” said Crooks.
The mall manager said much of it has to do with the way of life here.
“It’s a representative feeling of warmth that The County is recognized for,” she said.
The food court and Ruby Tuesday provides a variety-filled dining experience. The stores and kiosks in the mall offer everything from furniture and auto accessories to clothing, jewelry and mountain bikes.
“No matter what a customer is looking for, we have it,” she said.
The mall hosts a variety of activities such as arts and craft shows, karaoke and music festivals and community awareness programs and has held award ceremonies for both the Biathlon and the Jr. Olympics skiing events.
“Our goal is to make sure we provide a clean, pleasant and entertaining environment for our shoppers,” said Crooks. “We offer the best deals and selections possible.”
For seniors, the mall hosts bingo every Tuesday morning. The mall seasonally decorates and welcomes both Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny for photos and fun for kids.
For the younger shoppers, there are train rides, as well as a new business catering to youth.
“The Maine Jump is a great addition to the mall. They provide a friendly, family atmosphere with tons of fun for kids, regardless of the weather outside,” said Crooks.
New stores continue to be added to the mall lineup. The Dollar Tree opened last fall. The Label Shopper is slated to open later this spring.
“Both Dollar Tree and Label Shopper are great additions to our facility. A tight economy means people are watching their dollars carefully. Both stores provide an opportunity to stretch those dollars while getting needed products at bargain prices,” said Crooks.
At the mall, customer service is very important. A staff of about 25 is on hand to help make the shopping experience a pleasant one. Customer service representatives are also called upon for tourist information.
“Customer service is essential to our business. Our job is to provide the community with a friendly, safe and clean environment for everyone to enjoy and shop in,” said Crooks.
“There are a lot of exciting things happening at the mall. The Seamstress continues to do well and business is growing for owner Terry Burtchell. The Rustic Attic has almost outgrown its space. And of course Lowe’s Home Improvement Center is a great compliment to the overall mall shopping experience,” said Crooks.
She noted that several stores are locally-owned — a point she takes pride in.
“We’ve served as an incubator to several businesses, helping new as well as established businesspeople. In addition to The Seamstress and Rustic Attic, Acadia Medical, Card Smart, Trader Joe’s and Maine Jump are all locally-owned and -operated. It’s great being able to help local people establish businesses and to see them prosper,” said Crooks.
Numerous other stores, including anchors Sears, Kmart, JC Penney and Staples, also call the mall home.
“We also now serve as home to the military recruiting office,” said
Outdoor enthusiasts can now head right to the mall using the connector from the ATV/snowmobile trail.
“We get a lot of recreational enthusiasts year-round, whether by ATV or snowmobile. They come to eat and even shop,” she said.
The mall continues to work with area nonprofits and serves as host to many activities, including Boy Scout presentations, informational booths and more. “We’ve helped both large and small charities,” Crooks said.
“We continue to be a partner with SAD 1’s school art show. That continues to be a popular event each year,” added Crooks.
“We try to do as much for as many as we can. We’ve hosted car shows, monster trucks, various entertainers and continue to be committed to supporting the Northern Maine Fair,” Crooks said. “We honored the victims of 9-11 and continue to honor veterans with a special wall. We’ve worked with the Presque Isle Historical Society and the Central Aroostook Humane Society too.”
Crooks said she and her staff take pride in being a part of County life.
“We’re entrenched in the community and take that role seriously. We look forward to many more years of serving the residents of Presque Isle and surrounding communities and will work to continue to promote business and community development,” said Crooks.
More is planned for later this year, when the mall officially marks its 20th birthday.
“We have a number of things in the works for later in the year. It’ll be great, with lots of fun activities and specials, so be sure to watch for more details,” said Crooks.
For information, contact 764-2616 or e-mail management@aroostookcentremall.com, visit www.aroostookcentremall.com or look for the Aroostook Centre Mall on Facebook.
