North 40 confirms move out of Holiday Village

Editor’s note: This version includes comment from the Holiday Village Mall general manager.

North 40 Outfitters has confirmed that it is moving its Havre store out of the Holiday Village Mall into the vacant former Havre Kmart location.

The company headquarters in Great Falls sent out a press release this morning that said a full remodel will begin immediately, but an opening date is not set.

Tentative plans are for the store to open in the new location late this year, the release said, although that timeline is subject to change.

The departure of North 40 will leave Holiday Village with all three of its anchor positions empty.

Herberger’s and the Sear’s Hometown store in the mall closed last summer.

The Havre Kmart closed in September.

Havre Holiday Village General Manager Micheal Liese confirmed in February that the mall was under new ownership — its former owner, Colfin Security National Properties Mezz Funding of Delaware, said it was selling several shopping malls it owned around the country in an effort to avoid bankruptcy. Liese said he could not comment at that time on the new owner’s plans for the property, but sent the Havre Daily News a statement today.

“What I can tell you regarding the center is our team is continuously seeking new and exciting opportunities that we can bring to the center to enhance the retail offerings and better meet the needs of our customers at Holiday Village,” Liese said. “I will share information when it becomes available, however, we do not have anything at this time.”

“North 40 has been a great tenant at our center for many years and continues to be,” Liese said in February. “I cannot speculate or comment on their business plans for the future. I can only speak to them currently still being a tenant at Holiday Village. I will share information if and when it becomes available, however, we do not have anything at this time.”

Liese said he was providing additional comment today but the Havre Daily News had not received it by printing deadline.

North 40, which started as Big R in 1997 and rebranded as North 40 Outfitters in 2014, said in its release that the new location will nearly double its space from 48,000 square feet to more than 91,000 square feet.

The local zoning board in February approved a variance so the company could fence off a 34,000-square-foot area in the parking lot of the new location as an outdoor display area.

“This relocation will allow for an expanded assortment in all categories including farm, ranch, clothing, footwear, automotive, tools, pet, lawn and garden, hardware and sporting goods,” the release said. “In addition to store size and product expansions, North 40 Outfitters will be investing locally in additional staff to help run and maintain the store.

The release said the company has 10 stores, two in Montana, five in Washington and three in Idaho, as well as an an e-commerce site at https://north40.com/.

The company employs about 750 people in a mixture of part- and full-time positions, the release said.